Jehovah’s Witnesses denied part in blood transfusion suit

Irish Independent, Ireland/December 7, 2006

The High Court has rejected an application by the congregation of Jehovah’s witnesses here to be part of legal proceeding arising out of one of its members being forced by the court to have a blood transfusion.

The action is being taken against Ms K, a 23 year old Congolese woman by the Coombe Hospital because she refused to take blood having haemorrhaged after giving birth.

The congregation had sought to be joined citing the right to freedom of religion and bodily integrity.

But Mr Justice Frank Clarke dismissed this saying the congregation had not established that it had a direct interest to be joined as a party.