A High Court judge has ruled in favour of health authorities who sought court guardianship of a gravely ill baby boy after his parents refused a blood transfusion unless they got blood from unvaccinated donors.

Justice Ian Gault ordered the baby to be placed under the guardianship of the court until the surgery and post-operative recovery were completed, with the guardianship lasting until January 31st 2023 at the latest.

Otago University transfusion medicine specialist Jim Faed says the judge would have weighed the decision on the principle of putting the child's interests first.

"Even though the parents have got very real interest in the child's future, the decision would have been made that the immediate concern is a health problem. And therefore, the judge would have decided on that basis."

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