New Zealand court strips parents of child's medical guardianship in dispute over 'vaccinated blood'

The New Zealand High Court this week stripped two parents of medical guardianship over their child due to the parents' refusal to consent to a surgery for the child unless transfusion blood for the procedure came from unvaccinated individuals. 

The baby, who has gone unidentified due to privacy laws, requires open-heart surgery due to a congenital defect. The child's parents had previously sought to use an unvaccinated donor to supply blood for the procedure but were ultimately unsuccessful. 

Government officials will retain the guardianship over the child until the surgery and recovery are both complete. 

The arrangement will reportedly last until January of the coming year, with the parents retaining guardianship in all other matters.