New Zealand anti-vax guardianship case: how rare is it and what powers do courts have?

A New Zealand court gave a doctor the power to approve medical treatment involving blood transfusions because the parents refused to allow use of ‘vaccinated’ blood. Photograph: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

A New Zealand high court judge has ruled in favour of health authorities who sought guardianship of a baby boy after his parents refused to consent to a transfusion of “vaccinated blood” for a life-saving operation.

The landmark decision, delivered on Wednesday, is expected to have wide-ranging ramifications and has become a focus of protests for the anti-vaxxer movement, which held demonstrations outside the courtroom.