Johannesburg - A 12-year-old girl has undergone a life-saving blood transfusion despite opposition from her parents and church because it was against their religion, the Gauteng health department said on Thursday.
Spokeswoman Phumelele Kaunda said the girl underwent the blood transfusion on Thursday at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto after the intervention of the Johannesburg High Court on Wednesday.
Kaunda said in a statement that the girl, who belonged to a church that she could not disclose, was admitted to the Soweto hospital after suffering from a blood disorder that required a blood transfusion.
But this procedure was against the religious beliefs of the child and her family.
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"As transfusion was life-saving, the doctors consulted with the parents and the church elders to provide reasons for this choice of treatment. This was however not accepted," she said.
It was after doctors appealed to hospital management that the blood transfusion was necessary for the child to live that the health department jointly approached the Johannesburg High Court for help.
The case was heard on Wednesday and the court ruled in favour of saving the child's life with the transfusion.
"The parents were informed of the court's ruling and they accepted the decision. The child was transfused and [she] is currently doing well at the hospital," Kaunda said. - Sapa
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