MOUNT VERNON, Wash. – A Skagit County judge ruled Wednesday that a 14-year-old boy with leukemia who refused potentially life-saving blood transfusions cannot be forced to get them.

Dennis Lindberg died Wednesday evening.

He was of the Jehovah’s Witness faith and the faith prohibits transfusions of whole blood.

Lindberg’s legal guardians could have intervened, but they are also Jehovah’s Witness and they refused.

No change without treatment

Without the transfusions, doctors said Lindberg could not withstand leukemia treatment.

"I've never felt this black robe being a heavier mantle than I do right now," said Judge John Meyer.

The five-year survival rate of his particular type of leukemia is 70 percent. Doctors at Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center say the boy’s condition was very grave and likely had only a few days to live.

Born to drug addicted parents, Lindberg moved into a Mount Vernon home with his aunt four years ago. He joined his aunt's faith and became a Jehovah's Witness.

He was diagnosed with leukemia on Nov. 8.

State caseworkers asked a judge to force transfusions, saying Dennis may have been coerced. At the very least, Dennis's father says his son isn't seeing the big picture.

"I believe he's been surrounded by people of that faith and hasn't had a chance to hear both sides of the story," Dennis Lindberg said.

But the judge said after looking at the evidence, there is no legal reason to force transfusions.

"I'm just sad that in this moment, we aren't saving a little boy's life," said Teresa Vaughn, one of Dennis's former teachers.

She believes he did make the decision on his own, but says: "For me it's about whether or not a 14-year-old boy should make this choice."

A bio-ethicist at Children's Hospital says in most cases, parents or guardians cannot refuse a life-saving treatment based on religious beliefs.

"The wrinkle here is that you've got an older kid and that kids has strongly-held beliefs, so that makes it a little different," said Dr. Douglas Diekema.