26 Feb 2020
AUCKLAND DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD v S & MD [2020] NZHC 300
- Citation
- [2020] NZHC 300
- Court
- High Court
Given the established and substantial risk that the child would require blood or blood products in the course of necessary chemotherapy and related procedures, and because transfusion would be necessary to avoid death or serious harm, the child's welfare and best interests required vesting guardianship in the High Court and empowering medical agents to consent to blood transfusions despite parental religious refusal; parental religious rights do not permit choices that place the child's life at risk.