Te Whatu Ora is taking a case against parents who are refusing to allow blood from vaccinated people to be used during their baby's life-saving heart operation. Photo: RNZ / Mohammad Alafeshat
There will be a full hearing next week into a baby at the centre of a High Court case taken by Te Whatu Ora over the parents' insistence he is treated with blood from a donor not vaccinated against Covid-19.
Both the agency and the parents say the matter is urgent and are attempting to organise mediation before that.
Te Whatu Ora is making an application under the Care of Children Act regarding the baby who needs open heart surgery.
It is asking that the baby be placed under the guardianship of the court.
Te Whatu Ora then wants the court to appoint the doctors as agents of the court for medical care, and the parents agents of the court for all other care.
The agency's lawyer Paul White told the court the baby was getting sicker with every heart beat.
White said under any other circumstance a child with this condition would have been treated by now.
Supporters outside the High Court in Auckland where Te Whatu Ora is taking a case against parents who are refusing to allow blood from vaccinated people to be used during their baby's life-saving heart operation. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
The parents and the baby were present in court for the hearing.
Lawyer for the baby Sue Grey said doctors were dismissing the parents as conspiracy theorists and ignoring their concerns.
She told the court they wanted the best for their child.
The hearing was administrative only and a date for the full hearing was set down for Tuesday.
Meanwhile, about 100 anti-vaccination protesters carrying placards were outside the court in support of the couple.
About 100 people gathered outside the High Court in Auckland to support the parents. Photo: RNZ
A supporter of the baby's parents, Sarah McNaulty, said their stance was about having freedom of choice.
"There's so many people lined up to give their blood freely," McNaulty said.
"That is where tyranny starts. When the state provides us with not being able to give blood freely to a patient that needs it."
The Blood Service said it did not keep blood for vaccinated and unvaccinated donors separate and there was no risk from the Covid-19 vaccine.
The health authority earlier told RNZ the decision to make a court application was always made with the best interests of the child in mind and following extensive conversations with the whānau.
It said it knew it could be worrying for parents who had a sick child and who were making decisions about their care.