Public Health Trust of Dade County v. Wons

Jehovah's Witness Wons (plaintiff), mother of two minor children, was conscious and competent when she refused a life-saving blood transfusion for uterine bleeding on religious grounds at a hospital run by the Public Health Trust (defendant); the trial court authorized the transfusion over her objection, reasoning her children's interest in being raised by two parents outweighed her religious rights, and the transfusion was performed while she was unconscious. She appealed after regaining consciousness, and the appellate court reversed, finding her constitutional rights could not be overridden by the state's interest; the Public Health Trust appealed to the Florida Supreme Court.