A young mother died soon after giving birth to twins because her Jehovah's Witness faith prevented her from accepting a blood transfusion.22 year-old Emma Gough, from Telford, Shropshire, gave birth at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital on 25 October.
Just hours after the birth, complications set in - but because of Mrs Gough's faith, doctors were powerless to save her.
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Terry Lovejoy, a spokesman for Jehovah's Witnesses in Telford, said: "We share the family's very real grief."
Mr Lovejoy, who is in contact with the family, said he didn't want to comment further until the full facts had emerged and a hospital review had taken place.
The twins, who are both healthy, are being cared for by their father, Anthony Gough, 24.
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that God has forbidden blood transfusion in the Bible. They believe that accepting a blood transfusion is a sin.
Mr Lovejoy said: "We follow the Bible and abstain from blood and I've no reason to believe Emma felt any differently."
Head of Science and Ethics at the British Medical Association, Dr Vivienne Nathanson, said: "If somebody believes that having blood will excommunicate them from their religious beliefs, then they will often say no and accept the risk of death."
4 November 2007
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