In re Rena

When a seventeen year old patient, Rena,1 and her parents, who are members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, refused to allow physicians at the Berkshire Medical Center (hospital) to administer a blood transfusion to Rena, the hospital sought an order in the Superior Court seeking permission to do so. After a hearing, a Superior Court judge issued a temporary order permitting the hospital to administer a blood transfusion to Rena in the event that “a life-threatening traumatic event” occurred in the course of her treatment. At a subsequent hearing, the judge entered a final order granting the same…