Custody of sick child withdrawn from parents who refused ‘vaccinated blood’ in New Zealand

Six-month-old ‘Baby W’ has been ordered by Auckland High Court to be placed in partial guardianship as he undergoes emergency surgery for a heart condition called valve stenosis.

His parents had objected to this surgery, demanding that blood that could be transfused in the operating room come from donors who had not received any messenger RNA vaccine against Covid-19.

“The general question is whether the proposed treatment is in (the child’s) best interest”the court said in a statement.

The baby is now under the “Judicial medical protection” As far as “the end of his operation” and his recovery, no later than the end of January.

Parents retain authority over the child except for medical care. They will be “informed at all reasonable times of the nature of the treatment reserved for Baby W and the evolution of his condition”according to the sentence.

This case shocked the country and highlighted the significant misinformation around vaccination.

Health agency spokesman Mike Shepherd said it is “a difficult situation for all involved”.

“The decision to submit a request like this to the court is always made with the best interests of the child in mind”he underlined.

The child is being treated at a children’s hospital in Auckland.

When the court’s decision was announced, anti-vaccine activist Liz Gunn asked the few people who came to support the family to pressure Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to reverse her decision.

The health authorities had rejected the request of the asking parents “unvaccinated blood”arguing that it was impractical and useless.

Hospitals do not separate blood donated by the vaccinated from that of the unvaccinated, neither category presents more risk than the other.

The family says they have dozens of unvaccinated donors waiting.

“This is a very unusual case where parents want better treatment for their child than what the state is offering.”Sue Gray, the parents’ attorney, said in November.

“We’re here because we have a government and a blood bank… (who) don’t want to provide these services”in your opinion.