EXTRACTS FROM OPINION, DATED DECEMBER 28, 2023:
“… I am pleased to share my 40 years of experience in pediatric oncology practice, during which I have often faced the issue of blood transfusion in children undergoing cancer treatment.”
“Strangely, in retrospect, I only have good memories of these delicate situations where the importance of respecting faith on one side, but also the medical mission of care on the other, come into conflict. The main reason is the unique way Jehovah’s Witnesses present themselves and, above all, present their convictions with great serenity and kindness. … This approach to the seemingly unsolvable problem has always impressed me, both as a pediatrician and as a father, and has opened my mind to finding solutions despite differences in beliefs, and even some misunderstandings. It initiates a benevolent listening from the doctor and, in turn, generates trust from parents and the sick child, far beyond what I have experienced in any other circumstance. It is this kindness that has always allowed me to open a sincere dialogue, where the missed opportunities due to refusal to transfuse are discussed calmly and a common ground is found based on the child’s prognosis, the intensity and the treatment plan.”
“… This is another characteristic of Jehovah’s Witness families where children, like their parents, are particularly respectful, which is becoming rare in today’s society. Consulting these children up to the age of 18, I also had the opportunity to verify that the effects of this education continued, even during the rebellious period of adolescence.” (Original in French.)