Docs fight dengue and faith to save 24-year-old Colaba woman

Mumbai: Faith is more important for this Colaba family than allowing doctors to go for a blood transfusion on their 24-year-old daughter suffering from dengue.

By: Somita Pal | | Updated: September 12, 2013 10:29 am

Tags: Blood Blood transfusion In the news

Mumbai: Faith is more important for this Colaba family than allowing doctors to go for a blood transfusion on their 24-year-old daughter suffering from dengue.

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With a dip in the platelet count, doctors at Bombay Hospital where she is admitted are in a quandary. Her family, belonging to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, have strictly warned them against any kind of blood transfusion. But it is needed to raise the platelet count while treating dengue.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses, a Christian sect with about 8,000 members in Mumbai, doesn’t believe in donating or accepting blood.

‘We are worried about her internal and external bleeding as it can be a potential life-threatening complication of dengue,’ Dr Mukesh Sanklecha, treating Mary (name changed), said. ‘Her platelet count is dropping. We are trying to ensure that she doesn’t suffer an injury.’

On September 4, when she was admitted, Mary had a platelet count of 1,13,000. Her Friday platelet count was 80,000. Doctors are monitoring her medical condition round the clock.

Mary came to Bombay Hospital with a history of high fever for four days, bodyache and severe weakness. A quick blood test at the hospital revealed her white blood cells and platelet count were lower than the required level.

‘We did a dengue NS1 test that checks the antigen levels. When it tested positive, we told the family the line of treatment and possible complications,’ Dr Suba Sundaresan, senior resident doctor, said.

‘Hearing about the probable need of blood products (platelets, plasma, packed cells), the family took a stern stand and warned us against using any kind of blood products,’Sundaresan said.

Stunned by the family’s demand, the doctors have instructed the family to ensure she doesn’t move around much in the hospital to prevent accidental injury.

‘If her platelet count drops further, even a mild hit to anything can lead to bleeding,’ Sanklecha said. ‘We are giving her medication to prevent internal bleeding, especially gastric bleeding, apart from maintaining her blood pressure by giving intravenous fluids.’Mary’s mother told dna on Friday: ‘We are not against modern medicine. If that was the case we would not have admitted our daughter to the hospital. But our faith doesn’t allow us to accept blood or blood products of others. We believe that quality medical care can be given through alternative non-blood management.’

Advocate S Venkatesh said: ‘The primary duty of a doctor is to save human life. In this case, if the patient’s family refuses to give consent, then the doctor cannot be held responsible.’

Jehovah’s Witnesses
It is a Christian denomination with certain beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The organisation reports worldwide membership of over 7.78 million. In India, there are about 40,000 members

Source: dnaindia.com

Published : September 7, 2013 2:15 pm | Updated:September 12, 2013 10:29 am

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