Wrongful Death Suit Over Death of Jehovahs' Witness Girl Dismissed

In Canada, the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench in Calgary has dismissed most of the claims in a wrongful death suit by the father of a Jehovah's Witness girl who died from lukemia in 2002. Canwest News Service reported Saturday on developments in the suit by Lawrence Hughes against the the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Canada and two lawyers who had represented his daughter Bethany. After Bethany became ill, Hughes changed his religious views and fought to get her medical treatment. Eventually a court ordered blood transfusions, over Bethany's objections. The lawsuit claimed in part that Bethany's lawyers gave her inaccurate information about treatment of her condition, and that they had a conflict of interest because Watch Tower Society was also their client. In dismissing the claims, the court said Hughes, who is appearing pro se, had little chance of success.