Richard and Carol Gilbert are Jehovah's Witnesses. A tenant of
their religious belief is that blood is sacred and for that reason
Witnesses do not allow blood transfusions. Through the use of Cell
Savers and other medical devices, many operations can be performed
without the necessity of exposing one's self to the risks involved
in a transfusion. In this case, the Gilberts' youngest son, at approximately
age 8, was diagnosed with Cancer. Various employees at Kaiser held
personal beliefs contrary to those maintained by Jehovah's Witnesses.
The parents asked the Kaiser physicians if there were any other
treatment options, other than those which involved the giving of
transfusions. The physicians falsely claimed that there were no
other medical choices. Thereafter, Kaiser misrepresented the facts
to the Court, when the medical provider sought a Court Order for
a transfusion. Their misrepresentations came to light when one heroic
young physician stepped forward with the information concerning
other treatment options. She testified that the Declaration submitted
by Kaiser was replete with perjured testimony. This nationally-followed
case concluded favorably for the Gilberts and for our society at
large. The Gilbert boy's Cancer was cured, using the alternative
treatment. As a consequence of the Gilbert litigation, the Kaiser
system changed its procedures and new standards have been implemented
for the treatment of Jehovah's Witnesses. Richard and Carol Gilbert
received financial compensation for the lies that had been spread
by the Kaiser staff and for the damage to their reputation as loving
parents.
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