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Couple Fighting State Over Blood Tests-Parents Cite Religious Beliefs In Not Wanting Child Tested
theomahachannel.com ^
Posted on 09/27/2003 3:18:04 PM PDT by 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.
TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Nebraska
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To: chance33_98
Seems pretty outrageous at first blush.
2
posted on
09/27/2003 3:20:23 PM PDT
by
ellery
To: chance33_98
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.
3
posted on
09/27/2003 3:23:41 PM PDT
by
Harmless Teddy Bear
(Been there. Done that. Got the T-Shirt. Sold it on e-bay.)
To: Harmless Teddy Bear
7th Day Adventists possibly
To: Harmless Teddy Bear
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.
5
posted on
09/27/2003 3:32:56 PM PDT
by
auntdot
To: chance33_98
What's your take on this, Chance?
6
posted on
09/27/2003 3:33:13 PM PDT
by
netmilsmom
(Ray has gone bye-bye Egon, what have you got??)
To: auntdot
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?
7
posted on
09/27/2003 3:42:21 PM PDT
by
Harmless Teddy Bear
(Been there. Done that. Got the T-Shirt. Sold it on e-bay.)
To: John Beresford Tipton
Really?
I have heard that the JW don't allow blood tranfusions but never heard that the 7th Day Adventists had that belief.
8
posted on
09/27/2003 3:45:22 PM PDT
by
Harmless Teddy Bear
(Been there. Done that. Got the T-Shirt. Sold it on e-bay.)
To: auntdot
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.
9
posted on
09/27/2003 3:48:12 PM PDT
by
supercat
(Why is it that the more "gun safety" laws are passed, the less safe my guns seem?)
To: Harmless Teddy Bear
How is it that they managed to get married without a blood test?I did.
To: stands2reason
Must vary from state to state then.
11
posted on
09/27/2003 3:53:38 PM PDT
by
Harmless Teddy Bear
(Been there. Done that. Got the T-Shirt. Sold it on e-bay.)
To: netmilsmom; chance33_98
ALL YOUR CHILD BLOOD ARE BELONG TO THE STATE
12
posted on
09/27/2003 3:59:43 PM PDT
by
BenLurkin
(Socialism is slavery)
To: BenLurkin
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!
To: stands2reason
"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.
14
posted on
09/27/2003 4:20:25 PM PDT
by
jocon307
(Moving to New Zealand soon (apologies to F. Zappa))
To: Harmless Teddy Bear
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
15
posted on
09/27/2003 4:38:54 PM PDT
by
Servant of the 9
(Think of it as Evolution In Action)
To: chance33_98
they are people of faith who believe that blood is sacredThey're not terribly bright.
To: BenLurkin
Don't like it? Then don't give birth in a hospital.
17
posted on
09/27/2003 4:41:24 PM PDT
by
1rudeboy
To: ellery
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.
To: netmilsmom
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.
19
posted on
09/27/2003 4:42:04 PM PDT
by
chance33_98
(This tagline made from recycled ideas, no animals were harmed during the typing of it)
To: Indrid Cold
Kids as chattels, owned by parents? Sorry, but that is stupid.
20
posted on
09/27/2003 5:19:18 PM PDT
by
Chancellor Palpatine
(Buddy Rydell from "Anger Management" is my new role model)
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