Boy dies after refusing blood

            On November 28, Dennis Lindberg died at Children’s Hospital in Seattle after he and his guardian refused transfusions on the basis of their Jehovah’s Witness faith.  Dennis was in eighth grade and had turned 14 in September.  The photo at right was taken in 2003.

            During the boy’s early years his parents were addicted to methamphetamines and did not provide him stability.  Dennis went to Mt. Vernon, Washington, to live with his aunt, who became his legal guardian.  His parents say they have since completed drug rehabilitation and been free of substance abuse for the past few years.

            On November 8, Dennis was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia.  Doctors at Children’s recommended a three-year program of chemotherapy and reportedly warned that many blood transfusions would also be necessary to prevent fatal side-effects from the chemotherapy.

            Dennis and his aunt declared that as Jehovah’s Witnesses they could not accept transfusions, but wanted the best medical treatment available without blood.

            Chemotherapy treatments were given, but soon had to be stopped because the boy, predictably, developed severe anemia and an enlarged heart.

            On November 26 Dennis’ grandmother contacted CHILD.  We advised her to contact Child Protection Services.  CPS immediately contacted the biological parents, flew them to Seattle, and arranged a court hearing for the next morning.

            Though CPS petitioned for custody and the parents told the court they wanted their son transfused, the judge ruled that Dennis was a mature minor who had made an independent choice to die.

            “He knows very well by stating the position he is, he’s basically giving himself a death sentence,” Skagit County Superior Court Judge John Meyer said.

“I don’t believe Dennis’ decision is the result of any coercion.  He is mature and understands the consequences of his decision,” Meyer continued.  “This isn’t something Dennis just came upon, and he believes with the transfusion he would be unclean and unworthy.”

            By the time Meyer heard the case, Dennis was unconscious.  The judge did not see him or speak with him.

            The boy was also unconscious by the time the court allowed his father to visit him.

            The guardian and her daughters posted upbeat online reports on Dennis for several days.  They said, “Jehovah is using Dennis in a mighty way.”  They said they were “helping Children’s Hospital learn” how to treat leukemia without using blood.

            The Jehovah’s Witnesses have Hospital Liaison Committees to monitor hospitalizations of Witnesses throughout the country and propose alternatives to blood transfusions.  After the aunt suggested one to a doctor, the aunt wrote, “Dr. Park was amazed that I keep coming up with this stuff that she has never heard of even though she is one of the best doctors in her field – thank you, Jehovah, for providing the HLC brothers!”

            Among the alternatives the Witnesses used were meditation, guided imagery, massage, biofeedback, and naturopathy.  “Yesterday,” his cousin reported, “we installed 6 red blood cells (red heart-shaped balloons) in his room hanging from his bed, for him to visualize healthy blood production to combat the leukemia.  He’s working on itJ, with the help of the ‘angry garlic head’ Bryan cox drew for him in his room.”

            Their tone changed dramatically on November 22 when they reported facing Satan’s “greatest test.”  To their non-Jehovah’s Witness critics, they wrote, “We compassionately understand your confusion and, perhaps even your anger at the decision that Dennis and his family have made.  We understand that this is an amazing, bright young man who has before him 70, maybe 80, years to contribute to this world.  While we empathize with your strong feelings, we ask that you attempt to respect Dennis’ fight for what he and his family believe so strongly in. We see this life whether it be 14 years long or 84 years long, as temporary and relatively short to the everlasting life that Jesus and his Father, Jehovah, promise true Christians who remain faithful.  We appreciate your struggle because we have spent the past two weeks in endless conversations with very kind, earnest, dedicated professionals whose soul purpose in life is to save people’s lives. However, these extremely intelligent people have come to know Dennis as many of you know him and they have come to respect him and his faith even though it contradicts what they firmly believe.  He has so very strongly stood for all of his beliefs with everyone he has known and everywhere he has been in his short life.  This is what makes all of us love him and admire him so much.  He has always been a person of integrity, never taking the easy road, but has been willing to endure whatever ridicule might come from living by his convictions.”

            “While some may not understand the biblical principles regarding the sanctity of blood,” the aunt continued.  “I would ask that you reflect on the fine moral character of this young man and trust that his convictions on this aspect of Christian faith is no less important than any other conviction he has made known to all that know him.  YOU have admired him and respected him for being such a person of integrity.  Please realize that the same responsible, fine person you have known is only maintaining his strongheld convictions even in this most trying situation.  Can we not respect this even if we don’t understand it?  He would want this.  As was posted, his first comments after the doctors left his room on Tuesday were, ‘Now I really feel respected.’  He has made a decision based on his faith in Jesus’ promised resurrection of faithful ones who adhere to ALL of God’s requirements, not just those that are convenient, and easy to follow.”

            By November 22, chemotherapy had been discontinued because of the boy’s severe anemia.  Soon afterwards the journal on Dennis Lindberg was removed from the webpage.