Couple Fighting State Over Blood Tests-Parents Cite Religious Beliefs In Not Wanting Child Tested

theomahachannel.com ^

[chance33_98]

Couple Fighting State Over Blood Tests

Parents Cite Religious Beliefs In Not Wanting Child Tested

POSTED: 4:29 p.m. CDT September 26, 2003 UPDATED: 4:37 p.m. CDT September 26, 2003

OMAHA, Neb. -- Mary and Josue Anaya told a Douglas County judge Friday that they're not religious fanatics. The Anayas were summoned to court because they will not submit their newborn for mandatory blood tests used to screen for rare diseases.

The Anayas say they are people of faith who believe that blood is sacred. They don't think the state should force them to subject their child to these tests.

Dr. William Rizzo, a pediatrician specializing in metabolic diseases at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, said the tests save lives and detect diseases that can result in mental retardation. He thinks they should be mandated. "It's difficult to diagnose these diseases. You have to do specialized tests to pick them up," he said.

The couple pleaded with the judge Friday not to make a decision before they had time to seek legal counsel. The judge agreed to leave the hearing open until next month.

[ellery]

Seems pretty outrageous at first blush.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

The Anayas say they are people of faith who believe that blood is sacred.

Never heard of this faith. So no blood can be drawn? At all?

What are they going to do when the kid skins his knee?

However...They are the parents and should have the right to decide if they want the testing or not. It is not a public heath issue IMHO.

[John Beresford Tipton]

7th Day Adventists possibly

[auntdot]

Many states routinely take blood from newborns that is then sent to a state laboratory to screen for certain conditions, such as hypothyroidism.

A kid born without a thyroid gland will become severely mentally and developmentally retarded without doses of thyroid hormone, that can be easily given.

These are disorders that are not common, but many of the symptoms can be ameliorated if the disease is detected early.

Agree that the parents should have the final say, but if the child does have an undetected, but treatable disorder, I believe they should be prosecuted for neglect.

[netmilsmom]

What's your take on this, Chance?

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Agree that the parents should have the final say, but if the child does have an undetected, but treatable disorder, I believe they should be prosecuted for neglect.

If they are that upset about a blood test I doubt that they would allow other medical treatment either.

How is it that they managed to get married without a blood test?

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Really?

I have heard that the JW don't allow blood tranfusions but never heard that the 7th Day Adventists had that belief.

[supercat]

Many states routinely take blood from newborns that is then sent to a state laboratory to screen for certain conditions, such as hypothyroidism.

Would it be possible to test for such conditions via other means? Certainly blood tests are apt to be most convenient, but that wouldn't mean others weren't possible.

[stands2reason]

How is it that they managed to get married without a blood test?

I did.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Must vary from state to state then.

[BenLurkin]

ALL YOUR CHILD BLOOD ARE BELONG TO THE STATE

[Mark was here]

ALL YOUR CHILD BLOOD ARE BELONG TO THE STATE

And all your internal organs... try selling an extra kidney with out permission of it's true owner... the STATE!

[jocon307]

"How is it that they managed to get married without a blood test?"

"I did."

Yes, we did too. We got married, in NY State, during a window of time between the end of tests for Syphillis and before the start of tests for HIV in those seeking a marriage license. I don't think it was a very long time, either, maybe 6 months or so. I was married in October, 1985.

[Servant of the 9]

They are the parents and should have the right to decide if they want the testing or not. It is not a public heath issue IMHO.

I agree.
Enough horror stories about whacko religious parents dooming their kids to horrible deaths is the best antidote to whacko religions.

So9

[mountaineer]

they are people of faith who believe that blood is sacred

They're not terribly bright.

[1rudeboy]

Don't like it? Then don't give birth in a hospital.

[Indrid Cold]

As nutty as these beliefs might be, I wish the parents all the luck in the courts--they should be the ones to decide what is right for their child, not the State.

[chance33_98]

What's your take on this, Chance?

I dunno, something about church/state sepeation comes to mind though. I am waiting on the state to say some things are mentally unhealthy for kids and then watch people lining up to condemn parents who think and try to do otherwise.

On the personal side, I think the parents are way off base.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Kids as chattels, owned by parents? Sorry, but that is stupid.