I was glad there was a happy outcome for the Underhill family, the Jehovah Witnesses whose premature twin babies and their mother survived despite their refusal to accept blood transfusions.

Sadly, many Jehovahs are not so fortunate. It is estimated three people a day die because of this rule.

Yet the Bible does not forbid transfusions, just the drinking of animal blood, because it is associated with occult or pagan practices. A Jehovah will die for lack of a blood transfusion yet will eat red meat, which contains blood.

The JW organisation itself recently announced it was dropping the blood transfusion rule, yet it is still enforced. I have little time for a system that threatens people with excommunication if they chose to save their children's lives.

-Eric Harmer, Ashurst Road, Brighton