The High Court will consider tomorrow whether or not to order an emergency blood transfusion to a baby born prematurely a week ago in the Coombe Hospital, Dublin.
The child, weighing less than 1kg, was born to Jehovah's Witnesses parents who have refused to agree to a blood transfusion should it become necessary in an emergency.
Barrister Eileen Barrington, counsel for the chief executive officer of the hospital, told Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy today that the child was not in imminent danger.
She said the baby, a girl who by court order cannot be identified, may require emergency treatment should she develop an infection and the hospital would require a direction from the court before it could administer a transfusion.
Her parents have made it clear they would not permit a blood transfusion.
Judge McCarthy heard that the baby had been born at 28 weeks and five days in the hospital seven days ago.
Ms Barrington said the child's medical carers were concerned she was at risk of developing problems that could cause very serious and rapid deterioration.
"If she was to develop an infection the only treatment would be a blood transfusion and, while this has been explained to the parents, they have indicated to the hospital they will refuse to consent to a transfusion," Ms Barrington said.
She said the hospital was not seeking an interim injunction at this stage but wished the matter to be dealt with fully by the court before the weekend.
Judge McCarthy granted the hospital permission to serve short notice on the parents of its intention to seek a court order directing that a blood transfusion take place in the event of an emergency developing.
Ms Barrington said any treatment required would have to be delivered by the hospital within a matter of hours and if anything did go wrong it would go wrong very quickly.
