KZN Health in talks with parents of boy needing life-saving treatment
The KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC says his department has been meeting with the parents of a 5-year-old boy who have refused to consent to a blood transfusion for their sick son because of religious beliefs.
The child, who was admitted to Durban's Addington Hospital in September, needs treatment for sickle cell anaemia - a disorder that causes the red blood cells to break down and could lead to a stroke without treatment.
Health officials went to court, after his parents who are Jehovah's Witness believers, said they would not go ahead with a blood transfusion on doctors orders.
This is because of the biblical commandment to abstain from blood. A court order was obtained for the transfusion to be carried out. But MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo says they are still speaking with the boy's parents on how to move forward.
Dhlomo addressed reporters in Durban on a number of issues facing the Health Department in the province yesterday.
"As doctors, we take an oath before God when we complete our training that neither race, gender nor religion will make me withhold any treatment or intervention that can save a person from dying," said Dhlomo.
"We are guided by the Hippocratic Oath and we also respect the Constitution. We therefore want to give this child an opportunity to live."
Dhlomo also touched on recent cases of food poisoning in the Durban area. He said there is no salmonella outbreak in KwaZulu-Natal.
"We wish to categorically state there is no outbreak of salmonella in
the province - just a particular restaurant affected. This matter has to
do with poorly prepared food in a particular space," Dhlomo said.
