Ethical dilemmas will increase

I LISTENED with interest to various radio discussions concerning the mother who was forced, by court order, to receive a blood transfusion — against her religious beliefs but in line with ‘best medical practice’.

This transfusion probably saved her life, and thereby safeguarded the best interests of her newborn baby.

This was obviously an emergency situation but, be assured, similar ethical dilemmas arise quite regularly in medical practice.

Any of us who has had a child ‘on chemo’, will know the torment of persuading our child to comply with unpleasant, often painful, experiences — on the one hand wondering, ‘Will this work?’; on the other hand knowing the alternative is unthinkable.

We have been faced, as carers, with ethical dilemmas on a daily basis. We know the doctors and nurses, though highly trained, are, like us, searching for answers. They never give up, even in the face of failure.

We must keep knocking on Heaven’s door. We have put our faith in the ‘best practices’ of western medicine. It is not perfect. It may not even be the best answer. It is certainly not the only answer.

A child on chemotherapy has lots of blood transfusions. That is, one whose parents opt for treatment by Western medicine. As there are quite a number of religions that have a problem with the use of blood products, I think it is unfair and unethical for us to impose our ‘faith’ in the use of blood products on those who believe such use is wrong or sinful.

I am not saying the doctors should not have helped the young mother — in that emergency, they were unprepared to help her in any other way — but with an increasing number of people of different religions moving to Ireland, hospitals should prepare themselves to cope with patients who have religious preferences to be treated without using blood.

What use is free will if nobody can say ‘no’?

Mary Power

Seafield Cross

Ballylaneen

Kilmacthomas

Co Waterford