this boy.....and yes he is a kid he is not an adult has made what he thinks is a desicsion of faith but he is a kid and he should not be aloud to make that choice for himself...i have nothin personal against the jehovah witness faith except that they dont believe christ has been born yet but i beleive it is wrong for his gaurdians to support him in a descision that shouldnt be his....god wants us to trust in him but he also wants us to live and use medical science to help us live...if he wanted us dead then well as "jehovah is my witness" i will be dead regardless of medical science....the main point the main fact here is the judge shhould have intervened becuase this young man is still legally and mentally a child....and should be aloud to only help in his medical care he shouldnt be able to decide for himself...with this treatment he would have had a 70% chance or better now the church and the judge can thank themselfs for killing this kid....kids are very impressionable i dont care if they are 5 or 17 you shove a kid who has lived a hard life into a seemingly loving home and introduce him to a cult like faith to fit in and be accepted he will join that faith just to feel normal to fit in....so again what is happening here is wrong and its sad...when will we as society start realizing a 16 17 even 18 year olds are not adults they are kids(albeit older kids)but mentally and in some ways legally they are kids.....

I agree with the ruling. It is his death, as well as his life. I'm proud of the judge, who is upholding the Constitution. Too much of our lives are already controlled by "the government."
Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified 12/15/1791. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...

Kevin - you are riding a very slippery slope. What gives you or anyone else the right to make a determination about the life of this person/man/child? Also, please be aware that the 70% chance they are refering to is a "70% chance to live 5 more years". It is not a 70% chance of living a full life.

Hopefully, you and others realize that this choice was not an easy one. I'm sure that you don't think that this "kid" simply heard his options and said "screw it, let's see what happens".

Nothing, let me say it one more time, NOTHING gives you the right to tell any man, woman, or child(unless it is your own child and they are under the age of 18) how to live nor how to die. And just because you may not agree with the Jahovah's Witness, does not mean that they are a "cult like faith" as you have so elloquently stated.

I too am proud of the judge. However, what the judge should have done is go to the hospital or whomever was petitioning to have this person FORCED to have blood transfusions and punish them for interfering in this family's wishes. The gall of some people: to think they can come in and make choices about how someone lives out their life or what medical procedures they should be having. What are they Republicans? They must be, because if they were Democrats, we would be reading about how they want us to raise taxes in order to have the money available for these procedures after the state takes control of this child.

I just watched the news article concerning the refusal of a blood transfusion by the 14 year old Jehovah's Witness boy. I commend him for his decision. It was an adult decision made by an educated young man. It is more than a decision for oneself. It requires that one be educated on what the soverign of the universe commands. At Acts 15:29 Jehovah tells us to abstain from blood. This is a decision that Dennis Lindberg did not take lightly. It takes much study and obedience to make this decision. Jehovah's Witnesses value life very much and live our lives according to Jehovah's standards not our own. Yes we want to live and we do put our trust in the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ. (Yes we do believe in Jesus) As a father of a 14 year old girl who also made the decision not to have a blood transfusion, I know that this is the right decision because it is Jehovah himself that said obedience is better than a sacrifice.

I was a JW for 32 years and yes it is a cult. Even JW's can't agree about the blood issue...some parts you cand take, some you can't, etc.
A 14 yr old can't get married, can't drink alcohol, can't drive, can't vote, can't support himself, etc. but he is mature enough to decide his future. He can only make that EDUCATED decision because he has been brain-washed by the Watchtower Society.
Unfortunately, a person doesn't know they are brain-washed until they are out of that organization.
Go to www.silentlambs.org to learn more about JW's practices.

The young man made a decision based on Bible principles, no more, no less. and because of those principles he is in no danger of possibly receiveing tainted blood of which he could contract a deadly deseases such as HIV. I would like to say to "RELEVANT", I could'nt have said better!

Sad to think there are so many sick people that have NO Truth about the Bible. Jehovah's Witnesses is a CULT! And they are condemning this boy to hell, this is suicide. Wake up and get this boy the transfusions.

6 years ago I myself was diagnosed with leukemia;I was 11. This is such a painful thing for me and it kills me that what family, friends, and doctors spend their time and money on research and cures for this very disease and their efforts to save his life are in vain when another child who may also have cancer cannot get the treatment offered to this boy. It is such a selfish decision he's making!!! I know that life is a blessing and throwing it away for the sake of a disagreement that isn't stated anywhere specifically is killing the people around him who love him. In my first year of high school a well known sophomore committed suicide. though i didnt know him, i was still affected because i was close to people who knew him. it's sad to me that he would take his life when there are so many fighting trying to save their own! i have mourned the loss of friends the cancer took from me in the end and it makes their fight seem in vain when someone is willing to be so close minded and refuse to fight a battle that can be won. its just so sad that he's willing to give up life and all that might have been because of something as trivial as a disagreement.

Do the parents have any say so regardless of the boys decission? What if one Parent was a Jehovah witness and the other parent was not and wanted to save the boys life!? How unfair to have lost their son to a religion that took his life..... so much for the "great Aunt" that took in the boy to give him a better life; Most Jehovah Witness have a need that they are looking for of which the organization gives to them. The boy would of followed eventially any thing that would of been better than his home life... acording to the news anyway. I guess you need to supply your children with their needs and love them everyday so they don't look outside for deceived comfort.

The dictionary defines 'cult' as: A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false. The word 'cult' is not just a dirty name we tag to religions we don't agree with. It is very real. Jehovah's Witness is a cult movement, based on the description.

This poor kid was killed by his guardian's cultic belief system. It's amazing that the guardian would support the judge's decision when JWs maintain a complete separation from all secular governmental entities. They regard world powers as allies of Satan. They refuse to salute the flag or even perform military service and almost never vote in public elections.

What does this have to do with the boy's death? I believe that the reader should be informed about what kind of belief system is behind the decision for this boy to not accept a life-saving procedure.

I agree with Mary (above), who was a JW for 32 years. It's easy for all of us to make uninformed opinions. However, listen to what Mary says - this is someone who knows what it is all about.

I agree that we all have a right to believe what we want to believe. However, I do not agree that a religious belief can be used by a minor to refuse medical help. This young man could not possibly make a mature, informed, educated decision concerning his future. He was definitely coerced by his guardian and her cult.

I disagree with the judge's decision. Based on a minor's wish, the judge should have acted responsibly to save the boy's life. He has the moral obligation of accountability for justice, especially when responsible for those who are not mature enough to make the right decision for themselves.

. Cheers to the teacher who has the guts to teach. Being lathargic teaches nothing.

If people would read the bible it says that the ulitmate sin is suicide, and that is just what the boy did. He had his chance to save his life but he deciced to throw the dice and they came up craps! he lost..

Now the kid in question is trying to explain to god why he didn't try to save his own life.

I hope our lord takes mercy on his soul..
Bryan

If he believes in the bible and its contents, then it is good he is gone. He got what he wanted.

A 14 year old girl can decide to have an abortion. At least he only took his own life and not another's.
Thanks
Mark

More than half of these comments have completely missed the point of what was said! The transfusion would have PROLONGED his life and would not have miraculously made him live a full life!!! I challenge you to look in your bible and read the following scripture Acts 15:28,29. After reading this, ask YOURSELF "Do I have enough faith to do what GOD says?" Thousands of poeple go to war and die for thier country EVERYDAY!! But someone that loves and has faith in thier God is called crazy because they follow his rulership!!!!

What happemed to the law against commiting suicide? Obviously, that is exactly what he did..! And used his religion to justify it. Handy to have a god to lay this on...

The boy was 14 and yet some say he has the mind of a child and can't make decisions for himself. Then what of the kids who at 14 are being tried as adults for murder? They certainly knew what they were doing. This kid had faith in his convictions and knew what he was doing.

Whoever guardianed this boy should be brought up on murder charges. No 14 year old boy has the maturity to decide to end his life like this. What a waste, what century do these freaks live in? Disgusting...

I myself was a member of the Jehovah's Witness religion when I was younger. Though I do not participate today, I still understand and hold much of the beliefs. Even when I was younger, I knew blood transfusions were agianst God's word. And I knew that ultimately the decision was up to me if the situation ever arose. It makes my heart rejoice to know that this young Man made a choice that was between him and God. Not based on what mankind believes, but what he faithfully believed in personally. So many are quick to judge what they don't understand, and are greatly mis-informed. Many other religions have mis-believers. Don't take the word of another as your own, especially when that person is one out of many. On a side note: According to they law, a person above the age of 12 who a commits a crime is considered to posses the culpability to be charged with said crime. If the person can be convcited of knowingling committing a crime at the age of 12, then a person of the age of 14 should be capable of making a decision regarding his/her own life. I am proud of this young man. And I know Jehovah is proud that his faithful follower made such a brave choice. My prayers are with his entire family for this great loss.

Let's cut the crap - it is a cult - a group of people that get together and say we have a religion and these are the rules. They do not follow Christs instructions which say - suffer the little children for they inherit the earth. It does not say let the precious innocent children die a horrible death if you can save them, unless the parents were worried that the 33,000 that are going to heaven per the cults own words might not be their child. Don't know what to say, except to the parents of that child... take some ice because hell is really hot. Also, to you mormons out there, you are also a cult that have trapped millions of people in your so called religion. Read the last paragraph in the Bible which states that "you can not add or take away from this book" but yet the mormons have added a companion book the book of mormon, sorry you violated the Bible you too should take some ice it is going to be hot and crowded.
Don't want to sound like a religion basher, but all of these numb nuts need to realize that stupidity and war is not what God really wants from his children, but peace and understanding.
HOW ABOUT IF WE GET A BLOG GOING ON ALL THE DIFFERENT RELIGIONS SO US READERS CAN BASE OF BASH OUR OPINIONS

#1: I wonder if so many people would be upset about this person's decision is he were 74 instead of 14. I believe most would be proud of this person for making a tough decision to not go through more procedures with the hope of prolonging his life.

#2: While the textbook definition of a "cult" can be applied to meet the JW and Mormon faiths, I believe that if you took a poll of former Catholics, they would say some of the same things that are being said by former JWs. It is becoming more and more acceptable to label another religion as a "cult" when it differs from your beliefs.

#3: I've been trying to find the passages, but for some reason, I'm just not finding them. Hopefully, someone here can enlighten me. Where exactly in the Bible does it state that you are to pass your will and beliefs onto others? In fact, I don't really see anywhere in any of the Big 3 religions(Christian, Muslim & Jewish)where it states that you should pass judgement onto others. In fact, if you study either of the Big 3's teachings, it clearly states that these teachings are how YOU should live your life. Not how you should make others live theirs.

For those of you currently living perfect lives in accordance with their God, please continue throwing those stones. For those not living perfect lives, please watch out for the shards of glass, your house is falling down.

why is it whenever religion hits the news its allways a bunch of unbelievable crap? rape a choir boy start a war, money and scandal. keep your religion in your church and out of public eye and im thinkin we all would be better off.

Let's see, according to this judge a 14 year old is 'adult' enough to commit suicide. OK, well then perhaps we should get the kids aged 14 and up out of the schools and into the workforce. Let's let them marry, have kids and drive. Oh yeah, and let's not forget to send them over to Iraq and Afghanistan so they can get blown up too. If they are old enough to make life and death decisions, then they are NOT children. I don't know what the judge was thinking, but I seriously doubt it was in the best interests of the now dead child.

I have no sympathy for the aunt. She is the one who brought this child into the religion and she's the one responsible for his welfare. We see how well that worked out. I guess it is easier to care for a headstone than a living breathing child.

Misinterpreting the Old Testament prohibition against eating animal blood as a routine food item, the WatchTower Society began teaching in 1945 that receiving a blood transfusion was "eating human blood". Jehovah's Witnesses believe that receiving an infusion of human blood into their body's circulatory system is scientifically the exact same thing as eating or ingesting blood into their body's digestive system. Paul Gilles recent comments during this tragedy in which he compared injecting alcohol into one's veins (give me a break) to drinking alcohol proves that JWs still believe what the WatchTower Society published back in 1951:

"A patient in the hospital maybe fed through the mouth, through the nose, or through the veins. When sugar solutions are given intravenously it is called intravenous feeding. So the hospital's own terminology recognizes as feeding the process of putting nutrition into one's system via the veins. Hence the attendant administering the transfusion is feeding the patient through the veins, and the patient receiving it is eating through his veins." -- The WATCHTOWER magazine, July 1, 1951.

Jehovah's Witnesses refuse to acknowledge that when human blood is transfused into their body's circulatory system that the transfused human blood remains to be human blood and continues to function as human blood. Jehovah's Witnesses refuse to acknowledge that if blood is eaten, then the ingested blood enters the body's digestive system, where the blood would be treated by the body exactly the same as it would treat a hotdog, a potato chip, or any other food item. Ingested blood would be completely digested and broken down into proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and waste; which are then either assimilated or excreted by the body.

The WatchTower Society uses scriptures which speak about the blood of slaughtered animals to teach Jehovah's Witnesses that blood is "sacred" because blood is the "symbol of life". Then, the WatchTower Society turns around and requires Jehovah's Witnesses to sacrifice their own "life" to maintain the alleged "sacredness" of a "symbol" of the very thing they are sacrificing -- their life. Jehovah's Witnesses refuse to acknowledge that the WatchTower doctrine on blood moronically places a higher value on the SYMBOL than it does on the THING SYMBOLIZED.

In fact, the Old Testament scriptures permitted the eating of unbled animal meat, which the Bible treats exactly the same as eating animal blood itself. In isolated occasions, when humans needed to eat unbled meat in order to sustain their own human life, the Mosaic Law permitted such, but then required the eaters to fulfill the requirements of being "unclean" for a few days. Thus, the Bible recognized that the sustaining of human life was more "sacred" than maintaining the sacredness of animal blood. To do otherwise would be doing exactly what the moronic WatchTower Society does. It would make the SYMBOL more SACRED than the THING SYMBOLIZED.

In fact, the WatchTower Society is leading Jehovah's Witnesses to disobey GOD and violate the Holy Scriptures in one of the most serious ways possible. Because humans were created in GOD's image, GOD considers human life sacred. A Jehovah's Witness who sacrifices their SACRED LIFE in order to maintain the sacredness of a SYMBOL of that SACRED LIFE varies little from those who profane life by committing suicide. Those Jehovah's Witness Elders who teach and police this moronic doctrine vary little from common accessories to murder. The Bible is fairly clear in how GOD views murder, and how He deals with Murderers.

This moronic twisting of scripture would be laughable if not for the fact that it has lead to the pointless deaths of numerous Jehovah's Witnesses in the past, and it will continue to lead to the pointless deaths of many more Jehovah's Witnesses in the future.


The following website summarizes over 315 U.S. court cases and lawsuits affecting children of Jehovah's Witness Parents, including 200+ cases where the JW Parents refused to consent to life-saving blood transfusions for their dying children:

DIVORCE, BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS, AND OTHER LEGAL ISSUES AFFECTING CHILDREN OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

http://jwdivorces.bravehost.com

betsy c.....i didnt nor do i have the right to make the choice for this "child" if i did he might still be alive....only the judge and the gaurdians had the power to stop his erroneous desicion....and this is the problem they let a 14 year old boy commit suicide in the name of god.....and that my friend is against the christian faith...unless you live in oregon for most of the u.s it is against the law to comit suicide and in oregon the law for assisted suicide is still being challenged....think about it a 14 year old "boy" not a man not an adult was aloud to kill him self..we as the responsible adults most importantly the judge and the gaurdians should have as the responsible adults stopped him in his tracks regardless of personal or religous beliefs...becuase as a civilized society we dont let any one especially a child with misuided views make a desicion that effectively ended his life...and to the people who talk about quality of life ive had two friends who lived through blood transfusions after being diagnosed with leukemia and one who died and you know what the two that are alive are perfectly happy and healthy and the one who died got to experience a little more time with his family and kids...

i figured since i first said the word cult(in reference to the jehovahs witness faith) i should note a common dictionary... the following is
out of the dictionary:
cult:
1.a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.

2.any system for treating human sickness that originated by a person usually claiming to have sole insight into the nature of disease, and that employs methods regarded as unorthodox or unscientific.

and the only reason i brought it up is becuase the faith that the aunt brought that boy up in brain washed that boy into beleiving he would go to hell if he had a blood transfusion...kids even at the age when we as society start mistakenly thinking of as grown ups are very impressionable and still have problems with making logical choices..also problems with impulse control..

so yeah i believe that jw and mormons(churches i have both been involved with)act like cults..not just becuase i feel like they do take it from their own members and read the dictionary....and both are very ritualistic..and do things in the name of god and false association of mainstream christianity...

I fully agree that the 14year old should not have been forced in any way to accept a blood transfusion, nor should his parents be forced to allow such a thing when it is against their faith. It's their choice, not ours as to whether it is right for them spiritually to take a transfusion.

This country was founded with the concept of freedom of religion, sanctity to be able to practice your religion in a non harmful to others fashion, which is exactly what they are doing. Those rights should be upheld and continuously protected.

Let me start off by saying how sad it is in this day and age of medical science that we haven't yet been able to find a way to keep these diseases from aflicting the body -- naturally. I do know that there are many natural cures out there, if you don't believe me just ask many of our indigenous peoples around the world. No their knowledge can't keep everything from happening to our bodies. However, if we all lived a much more natural lifestyle, we might find that our health would be much improved. Take the chemicals out of the store bought foods and you, I believe, would find that many of these diseases would dramatically reduce if not disappear altogether. Of course, that would mean shorter shelf life and buying our food in it's more natural state. But when you consider the alternative, I believe I would prefer more frequent shopping trips, raising our own food, and possibly, dare I say it, hunting for our meat, to more frequent trips to the doctor's office. Tough choice, but I believe it's one we could handle.

Additionally, although I believe that God "helps those who help themselves", meaning that if we expect God to help us we have to make use of what's in front of us. I'm also very concerned about a government that wants to step into our shoes as parents and decision makers for our children. First is the very understandable choice of helping a hurting troubled family make the very hard decision of whether or not they should hold to their deeply felt belief system, however misplaced, that forbids recieving blood into the body. What's next, the government telling us what school to send our children to, whether homeschooling is wrong, when to send our children to bed, what should be taken in for meals and at what times, what extracirricular activities are acceptable, etc.... I could go on for days here.

I think that as sad as it is that this young man has lost his live, definitely earlier that he might have, and perhaps significantly so, we have to look to the bigger picture here. I believe that this judge has upheld the bigger picture. He has maintained a parents and/or guardians right and obligation to raise their children in the manner which they feel God has called them to. Whether they are right or wrong is between themselves and God, and not for any of us to judge.

My prayers will be with this family and the persons in charge of making decisions and laws in our country. God Bless you all.

I am one of Jehovah's witnesses also I knew Dennis,he was vary mature! He was absolutely doing what was right!I am 13 and I know that Jehovah's witnesses are the only True religin!! Again, he did what was right!!!!

this is not about the goverment meddling in the desicions of parents its about the fundamental responsibility (like it or not)of our goverment to protect the citezens it serves especially childeren elderly and the vulnerable...the goverment or in this case the judge had an opportunity to step in and save the life of this boy instead he decided this (boy) was old enough to decide that a life saving blood transfusion wasnt in his best interests and against his religion.....im sorry to say but reliogous reasons or not parents should not be able to make a choice that takes the life of a child...now i will say that not all doctors are right but established medical science has shown and proven the blood transfusions when used in conjunction with other treatments is an effective treatment and usually makes for a good long term prognosis...doesnt guarantee life....however i dont understand (and im a parent) how a mother,father or gaurdian of a child can deny a life saving treatment to a child...i understand religous conviction as i am a christian my self and love god with all my heart..i just dont see god or the bible telling us its okay to deny life saving treament...the writer above is correct god wants us to help himselfs not comit suicide in his name...jehovahs witness say blood is sacred well guess what so is life so is a childs life...and finally from what i understand but i may be wrong the jw faith base this belief about blood transfusions off of animal blood or something to that effect....some one from this faith please explain to me how this relates to a life saving blood transfusion....we have religous freedoom in this country and im proud to take advantage of it....but it goes to far when the courts allow a gaurdian of a child and the child himself to use religon to deny life...

this whole thing is just plain wrong and im seriously supprised that more people arent upset about the courts descion

So sad... the judge made a poor decision. This boy is NOT a mature adult. Whatever happened to 'looking out for the best interests of children.' Obviously his 'hovah gaurdians infused this boy with horrific 'hovah teachings. I know, I was one for 11 years. And don't lay the Acts bible verse on us, you 'hovahs. Abstaing from blood 2000 years ago has nothing to do with today.

it is as simple as this..............if he does not want medical treatment, It should not be forced on him.... or any one else for that matter...........just because all your life the medical community has told you how you should live does not give them the right to tell you how you should die....disease processes are natural and science is not....if you want to die naturally then that is one of the most personal choices you can make........the only reason the medical community cares at all....(about this or any similar occurrences)is that it may catch on and the money that would be lost on people choosing death over treatment would be crippling....look up bioethics....see where you stand in the medical community's eyes.......doctors withhold life saving treatments every day.......and they are worried about one child????who chose to die with dignity (at least that is what they call it when an adult does the same thing)....hmmmmm.........

Did the Aunt have life insurance on the boy?

tr....dying with dignity should come into play when you are terminal and are an adult...not when you have a curable condtion that is fully treatable and have at least a decent chance of living and again.....14 or not he is a child...

doctors who are trained who treat people and save people every day for a living they present what they and medical science beleive are the best options then they let either the patient or when a child is involved....(usually deemed incapable of making medical descions)leave it up to the parents.....but when a 14 year old child and then his gaurdians turn down a treatment accepted by doctors the medical community and most sane people(but maybe not religous cults)it is up to the doctor and the hospital to fight for the child and that is exactly what happened here...the major problem here is you have a judge who is obviously a chicken s*&t and didnt want to be in the middle of this...he didnt want to be the judge who forced a child his aunt and there church to accept the fact we live in a civilized society that doesnt let its peopl commit suicide...

"TR" so which one is it do doctors force people to live so they can suck them dry of every last penny or do they with hold life saving medical treatment on a daily basis....tr lifes to short to be a conspiracy theorist.....most doctors care about people they work in a high paying profession but they enjoy their jobs and love the idea of saving lifes just like a fireman or a policeman...and you may not believe this but when they go home at the end of the day they cry for all the people lost and all the people that were hurting...they are good people genuine and are human beings just like the rest of us.. get a life

It never ceases to amaze me that people are so surprised and/or outraged and/or supportive over this issue. For century upon century, men have misinterpreted parts of the bible and forced their own personal misinterpretations upon others in their "flock" - comprised of people who swallow and follow like mindless sheep - with utterly unnecessary and heartbreaking results, as in this case. Such "teachers" have much to learn and regret, now or hereafter, but it will be too late to undo the consequences of their ignorance. They, along with those who brainwashed them with pet misinterpretations, will be held to account.

He was a child. Plain and Simple. The state should not have allowed him to choose to die. If he was standing on the edge of a cliff, would we have said yes to his jumping. No, and he would have ended up in a mental institution for trying. It's not just a matter of religious choices. For example, in the beginnings of the LDS group, or Mormons, they held the belief, and some splinter groups still do that to go to heaven you had to practice polygamy, It's against the law, just like suicide so it's not allowed, religious belief or not. If he was 18 and made this choice, then I would not be saying this, but he wasn't. And it terrifies me to hear some of the stories where parents choose to let their children die when they desperately need a blood transfusion. I think the government should intervene and make the child a ward of the state and get them the medical attention they need.

if a fourteen year old child has been going through the pain of having a disease that not only may not be cured but they suffer every time they get said treatment....and choose to refuse treatment.......WHO THE HELL are we to tell the kid he has to continue the torture......just so that a few people are able to feel better......feel like they are DOING something.....when in fact there was no one in this situation more informed about the circumstances than the person it was happening too.........(THE KID)...........what some of you don't seem to understand is that this is not just a case where he decided to commit suicide because some F***ED up parent some where thought it would be funny to play a joke on the kid..........NO ONE ON here would be saying a word if he had committed suicide......and as for the medical community......they suck the people dry and when the money is gone so is all hope of survival.....funny how that works....but here in the good ole USA we are all about the buck otherwise all those good people you speak of would be spending some time in free clinics...instead of going from idealistic interns straight into private practice......my aunt died from leukemia when she was sixteen years old......at the time she was refused POTENTIALLY LIFE SAVING TREATMENTS wasn't even told about them BECAUSE the DOCTOR didn't FEEL that her family would be able to AFFORD it.....after she died my grandparents were told of a treatment that the mortuary owners daughter had received in Portland for the same type of leukemia my aunt had........conspiracy theory.........TELL MY AUNT THAT.........only people who have the misfortune of having an illness that is terminal will know what it is like.......I am not sure which is worse..........Letting a child choose the way they die and trust they know what is best or to force a child to die cause a doctor thought he knew best......

This is the kind of moronic, sick thinking that makes me hate organized religion. These freaks and their sick way of thinking need to follow that poor kid to the afterlife.

When everything you have been taught tells you that it is a sin to get a transfusion, what are you supposed to do...especially if he survived the long process, would he even be happy knowing that his own beliefs as well as his guardians were disregarded. That the beliefs he holds dear thrown aside as if they meant nothing. I don't think if he had lived he would be happy with that thought. I am not sure if it is true, but i read somewhere that some JW are subject to organized shunning if they go through with the procedure. All in all, we could not save this boy from the beliefs he held, but most certainly, though he died, the blood that would have been used on him, may have effectively saved someone elses life. He did not put a gun to his head and pull the trigger, life put the gun to his head and he chose not to get out of the way as a show of solidarity to his beliefs. Even though I myself do not believe in religious organizations, or their doctrines(i mean i would get a transfusion in a heart beat if i needed one), he did was he thought was right. Everyone says that what they believe is "the only true way." We can say JW's are a cult, have misguided beliefs, and what not. All in all you believe what you believe. Would you let someone whose beliefs were not of your own choose how you should live your life? Would you let the government? Do you trust them enough to make all of your decisions for you. If you do, you are much braver than I. It is a tragedy he died, of a terrible disease. Those beliefs might have inadvertantly saved someone else's life.

They jail a doctor for assisting willing people to end their pain from age or ailments. They do not respect the elderly or terminal to choose their own fate. Yet they let a 14 year old boy choose to be sacrificed all in the name of religion.

To the JW's please, when they serve the kool aid next time drink it and quick!!!

As much as I disagree with the death of a child, especially under such tragic conditions, I do agree with keeping the principal of separation of Church and State that our government was supposed to have been based on. If "god" isn't supposed to have a name in why or how a law is passed then how is a legal ruling supposed to have a say in whether a person lives or dies due to a religious belief? It seems as though that ideal has gotten drastically muddied in the course of time.

At his age I would have done the same thing. I would have totally thought I had the facts and was making the right decision. my mom was a JW, my dad was not (and they are STILL MARRIED) I became one at 17 thinking what took me so long (others my age became ones at 12-14) I still believe the bible is the way to go, but there is no way I can live by it. I do try however. I now work in the medical field and while it wouldn't be my first option, I would accept the blood after other options were tried. honestly, how is a blood transfusion different than an organ transplant? organ transplants are (now) acceptable to JWs. (apparently in the 50s it wasn't i don't know when that changed, but in the late 90s it was ok, as a girl i grew up with got one)

in the end its his choice age is not a factor religion is not a factor its what he beleaves is the right thing to do

George that would be true if he wasn't ill informed, coveted and or/brainwashed.

Again I say why cannot the elderly and terminally ill choose to die but are not allowed by the courts and society but a 14 year old can be sacrificed in the name of religion????

good point jehovah.....people keep saying that it was his rights....since when do we give rights to 14 year old childeren...i hate to say it this way but im tired of the arguement he was not in his right mind to make that descsion if only because he was 14 and then next becuase his aunt and the judge choose his and hers supposed religous choice over what should have been an easy choice...get a blood transfusion and have a decent chance at a good healthy full life....lukemia can be cured it can go in remission he did have als or parkinsons come on people..he had a chance to live and we all as a society failed this child by not protecting him from himself his aunt and honestly his own faith....they are the only denomination that i know of that still hold that beleif about blood transfusions....may god have mercy on the jw faith and may this be a lesson of the world we all live in...and to "katbird" this is specifically the reason why teenagers need protection from your selfs...at that age you will do any thing to have control over everything i hate to say it but out of all the age groups selfish attitudes are common and the ability to make the right choices and chhose not to make the wrongs ones based off of logic is deffinantly not most ingrained quality at that age..

so the main point here is no one especially a child has the right to end their own life he had options good ones and could have lived instead he wanted to be a martyr for the jw faith as i said earlier...teenagers a very impressionable and will do anything to be liked and accepted he happened to go live with his aunt who was jw and subsequently raised up to beleieve the way he did...he probably didnt have a chance to seek out other christian denominations or other faiths and felt accepted by the jehovahs witness community.....

Hmmm... where's the bottom line here? What if he had been 13 years old? 12 years old? 10 years old? Does any child have the "right" to decide to live or die?

As a 1st year Nursing student, I would have to agree with the ruling. The boys decisions are made by his parents, since he is not of the age to give legal consent. The parents and family have a faith, which they chose to follow. This can not be held against them. They have the right and expressed the right to decide their faith issues. Whether or not I agree with their decision, I would have supported their choice, 100%.

No offense William but I think you need to educate yourself a little more with this case. A good place to start is the blog on King 5:

http://blogs.king5.com/archives/2007/11/a_matter_of_fai.html

This will tell you a little more info from people who knew Dennis as well as this case.

Also, since you are a 1st year nursing student I would love to hear your thoughts on my earlier entry regarding why terminally ill and elderly cannot choose to be euthinized and we send doctor's to prison for honoring there ADULT request? Yet the courts allow a 14 year old to be sacrificed all in the name of religion.

I anxiously await your reply.

He is not of leagal age to make his own choices.

Someday when we all stand before our God and Creator, we will find out who is right and who is wrong. I think there will be some very suprised people.
Do we have the right to refuse transfusions, as the current topic? Do we have the right to refuse medical help as is taught by Christian Science? Do we have the right to pro-choice? Do we believe that the writings of Joseph Smith is inspired scripture and to be included along side the Bible?
Or are we able to be baptised for ancestors who have long died and may have lived like the devil but yet we are able to save them into heaven? Are we right in praying for dead out of purgertory and into heaven? Do we have the right to believe that there are many ways to heaven and it doesn't make any difference which path we take as long as we live a good life and our good deeds out weigh our bad deeds? Or do we have the right to be narrow minded, dogmatic, evengelicals beleiving in the literal interpretation of the inspired Word of God without the teachings of Russel, Mary Baker Eddie, Ellen White, Joseph Smith or others who seem to have a modern day insight into Biblical intrepretations?
In the game of life, there are no ties. There is no sudden death overtime.
Think I am out in left field? Thats OK. Someday we will stand together and find out, was I right or were you right.
In the mean time, I will fight to the death your right to believe what ever you believe.

We have for centuries debated the existance of God. Many so call religions refer to common man of the revalations on making life's decisions. We ask the questions on "Where were you, when I needed you GOD". He sends Doctors, Lawyers, Nurses, Mom's, Dad's, Judges and other in which he has made in his own image. Decisions made on life and death are made by those people. But cult or no cult, you live and die from decisions. If the Good Lord wanted the 14yo to live he would be with us today. We will answer to him when that days comes. What will your answer be when he ask?? WHY did you......

I'm not a JW, and I have never been seriously ill. However, in my opinion, the real issue is the "quality of life". As a person who is physically active, I could not imagine doing the things that I love, and I don't see waiting to die as an option.
I'm content with the things that I have accomplished in life, and should my life end today. I'm okay with that.
"Live life to the fullest and love to the greatest of your capability." If we do this, maybe we will all be ready when the time comes.

well jay alot of our lives may come to an end before they update this blog with a new subject.

How do wars start?

Wars have historically been over religion and land. Or another case oil.