FORCING SANITY ON THE WITNESSES
Judge OKs transfusion for wife of Jehovah's Witness
Husband objects because of a Bible teaching
By TONY LEYS
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
August 18, 2006
A judge has ruled that a comatose Clinton
woman may receive a blood transfusion, despite her husband's objections that
transfusions are against God's will.
Tawnya Nissen has been unconscious since July 31, when she collapsed because of
a bad reaction to a diet drug. She is being cared for at University Hospitals in
Iowa City.
Doctors told the family that she might need a blood transfusion if she had to
undergo a tracheotomy or other emergency surgery. Her husband, Chris, objected,
saying that as a Jehovah's Witness, she was forbidden to have such a
transfusion. The religion cites the Bible in teaching that God told his
followers not to partake in blood.
Tawnya Nissen has not needed a transfusion, and her condition has improved. But
she remains unconscious, and her father — who is not a Jehovah's Witness — asked
a judge to give him, rather than her husband, the power to decide on her
treatment.
Both sides agree that Nissen has studied the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses
but has not been baptized as one. They disagree over how committed she is to the
religion's stance against blood transfusions.
Chris Nissen's lawyer, Frank Santiago, said Tawnya Nissen often has gone
door-to-door, preaching the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses. He said that
before she gave birth to her son by Caesarean section five years ago, she signed
a statement saying she did not want a transfusion.
Santiago said she also signed a card identifying herself as a Jehovah's Witness
and saying she did not want blood. But her husband has been unable to find that
card, Santiago said.
"No one's listening to Tawnya's voice," Santiago said. "Tawnya's calling out for
no blood."
Her aunt, Becky Reid of Clinton, said Tawnya told her sister recently that she
would want a transfusion if it was necessary to save her life or her son's life.
Reid said relatives at first were uncomfortable when Tawnya Nissen became
involved with the Jehovah's Witnesses several years ago. "But we accepted that
it was her choice," Reid said.
However, Reid said, Tawnya Nissen seemed less committed to the religion than her
husband was. "We feel if she was that interested in converting, she would have
been baptized."
Reid said the issue came to a head after her niece collapsed and doctors raised
the possibility of a blood transfusion. "They said, 'Well, if there's a need,
she could lose her life.' We just couldn't let that happen."
Johnson County District Judge Marsha Beckelman ruled Tuesday that Tawnya
Nissen's father, Richard Reid, should be granted temporary guardianship to make
medical decisions until Nissen regains consciousness.
Beckelman noted the conflicting testimony of Nissen's husband and sister.
"It is impossible from the hearing record for the court to definitively conclude
that Ms. Nissen would either accept or decline blood transfusions, should it
become necessary to save her life," the judge wrote.
Beckelman also wrote that Chris Nissen has the right to be present during
discussions of his wife's care.
Noelle Murray, a Coralville lawyer, was appointed to serve as Tawnya Nissen's
attorney. Murray, who had never met her client before the case, said she did not
know what Nissen would want. At the hearing, Murray argued in favor of allowing
a transfusion, if needed.
"The bottom line is we don't know what her wishes were, and she may wake up and
be upset" if a transfusion was ordered, Murray said.
Santiago, Chris Nissen's lawyer, said everyone was heartened by Tawnya's slow
but promising recovery. It could take weeks, but she is expected to regain
consciousness, he said.
"Let's hope she can straighten all this out," he said of the controversy over
her treatment.