Are children safer with drug addicted parents than with a Jehovah's Witness relative?

Question

14-year old Dennis Lindberg, a Jahovah's Witness who lived in Mount Vernon with his aunt, died because he refused a blood transfusion. The article at the link tells the story. In part, it reads, "Born to drug addicted parents, Lindberg moved into a Mount Vernon home with his aunt four years ago. He joined his aunt's faith and became a Jehovah's Witness."
http://www.fox11az.com/news/topstories/stories/kmsb-20071130-NWjc-leukemi.5531bccb.html

MY QUESTION: Considering the influence his aunt had on him, would Dennis still be alive if he had stayed with his drug addicted parents, rather than with someone who's lifestyle contributed to his death?

Answer 1

This is a perfect example of where the state has a "compelling interest" when it comes to the welfare and the health of a child.

The boy was 14 and spent his life being indoctrinated in this form of faith. He obviously was not fit enough nor mature enough to make such a decision nor could he have been properly informed.

Personally I think the Aunt should go to prison for child abuse.

As for being safer with the Drug Addict parents. Who can say. Apparently it seems they could have intervened but chose not to for the same reason.

this is where stupidity rules and primitive superstitions beliefs cost the lives of Children.

I wonder where the Pro-Life protestors were, Where was Tom DeDelay and Rick Santorum? Where were all of those Terri Schiavo Protestors?

Answer 2

I am amazed at how Christians and Atheists attack JW's for their beliefs, both attacking any nuance of their faith no matter what it is. At the end of the day, all religions have weird beliefs within their doctrine. The ONLY issues anyone should really care about with JW's are: 1. Blood - why? because people die needlessly over it 2. F&DS / Governing Body rule: why? because this raises humans to "god" status giving them far too much control over the lives of members 3. shunning - pretty obvious why 4. 1914 - why? completely false. Undermines the purpose of the scriptures by creating eisoteric formulas that distract readers from the real message of Christ Everything else.... who cares? All religions are crazy. Take out F&DS and you have 7th Day Adventists, take out 1914 and add holidays you have baptists... etc etc. if JW's were to dump the F&DS, the GB, 1914, Blood and shunning...... I would be all in baby :D

Answer 3

HERE ARE 3 short video presentations interviewing Doctors, surgeons, anesthesiologists OF WHICH by far most are not Jehovah's Witnesses, THAT GIVE their honest appraisals as to non-blood benefits:
***NOW in--150 countries AND OVER--100,000 physicians prefer NON-BLOOD transfusion therapy:

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"Transfusion-Alternative Strategies—Simple, Safe, Effective"
**http://www.watchtower.org/e/vcae/article_01.htm
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"No Blood—Medicine Meets the Challenge" --(Preview of the 28 minute full presentation)
**http://watchtower.org/e/vcnb/article_01.htm
=========

ON THE LEGAL SIDE:

"Transfusion-Alternative Health Care—Meeting Patient Needs and Rights"
**http://www.watchtower.org/e/vcnr/article_01.htm

***STRAIGHTFORWARD & HONEST PRESENTATIONS***

Answer 4

The JWs say that today there are medically viable options for blood transfusions. This doesn't seem to be prevalent among the medical institutions. If this is true and it is available in limited areas, maybe cost is a factor. I'd want to see proof of other options to transfusions being available - if true, there is a lot of explaining to hear. Think of all the problems that would solve.... no complications. The possibilities would be enormous & staggering.

Now I'll probably get neg flag galore from the Red Cross and blamed for the drop in blood donations.

Answer 5

At 14 years old he was able to choose a blood transfusion or reject it...he rejected to throw away eternity for a few short years here .
I am a witness and can tell you that witness homes are safe and nurturing and loving.
I raised 6 children and a few of them were very sickly but we made it through with God's help. Had one of them died I would have missed them terribly but God says do not take blood into your body..good health to you.
The boy could have contracted so many blood born illnesses that would have killed him slowly and with much pain.
He now will be resurrected to life and all because he obeyed God.

Answer 6

One thing for sure, neither the parents nor the aunt are healthy people to live with.

Drug addicts are, you know, addicts. They are just in wrong places in their lives.

Followers of Jehovah's Witness just have no respects to other religions and believe in some weird rules like this one, "no blood transfusion" People who claim it is God's laws/rules are just sad.

Such a waste of life.

Answer 7

Wow, how sad... He would prob. be alive today if with his parents, although a horrible 2nd choice. Poor kid... The state should have intervened with the medical care- it should have been mandatory. I have a 14 year old boy and this is so sad..

For those of you that wrote he made a choice not to get the transfusion- his decision to die- how ridiculous of you... he was 14 years old, a child still.. The choice should never have been his!

Answer 8

To Shane:

"There is no guarantee that blood transfusions will save a life anyway."

No, but there is a guarantee he will die without it. The football player had a severed femorial(sp?) arterie. Basically his biggest blood source got cut. You can't just sew that up and throw more blood into it. Not only that but blood transfusions have been proven to be successful in many leukeimeia cases.


To the asker:

Honestly, the kid probably would have grown up being ignorant so it is truely not that big of a loss.

Answer 9

It was his choice. His faith. He knows he stood by God's rule, the bible and abstaining from blood. It is sad that he died, but he knows that he will have everlasting life for obeying God. I don't know if I could be that strong in faith. I wish I had that kind of conviction with God, don't you?

Answer 10

The poor kid doesn't seem to have had a lot going for him but he might have stood a better chance with a non religious aunt.