New Mom Dies After Refusing Blood Transfusion Due to Religious Belief

November 5, 2007 6:45 a.m. EST

London, United Kingdom (AHN) - A young mother who had just given birth to twins has died after she refused blood transfusion as it runs counter to her faith.

Emma Gough, a Jehovah's Witness strong devotee, thus died of severe blood loss following complications hours after she gave birth at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in Shrewsbury on October 25.

BBC News reported Gough's doctors could not do anything to save Gough, 22, because of the patient's religious belief.

"If somebody believes that having blood will excommunicate them from their religious beliefs, then they will often say no and accept the risk of death," said Dr. Vivienne Nathanson, Head of Science and Ethics at the British Medical Association.

Anthony, Gough's husband, 24, was said to have also refused the blood transfusion for his wife, reported www.telegraph.co.uk

Gough, of Telford, Shropshire and retail assistant, gave birth to a healthy twin boy and girl.

Jehovah's Witnesses are forbidden from collection, storage and blood transfusions. Remain faithful to the Bible passage: "Keep abstaining...from blood" (Acts 15:28,29), they believe blood transfusion is a sin, www.telegraph.co.uk, added.