Woman was prepared to die for her faith

A young woman who refused a transfusion after losing a massive amount of blood after giving birth in a Dublin maternity hospital has told the High Court she believed a transfusion was a transgression of "an order from God'' and she was "prepared to die'' for her faith.

The 24-year-old French-speaking woman from the Congo, known as Ms K, became distressed while giving evidence in the continuing action by the Coombe Women's Hospital for court orders that it was entitled to apply in September 2006 for a court injunction allowing it to transfuse her against her wishes.