2002
DOI: 10.1097/00045391-200209000-00009
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Blood Transfusions and the Jehovah's Witness Patient

Abstract: This paper provides a brief history of the evolution of the Jehovah's Witness faith with a short discussion on the biblical justification for followers' refusal of blood transfusions. It also briefly considers the ethical principles leading to potential conflicts between health care workers and Jehovah's Witnesses patients and examines several significant legal rulings in the United States and Canada that caregivers should be aware of. A discussion of what blood products are and are not currently acceptable is… Show more

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Cited by 35 publications
(20 citation statements)
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“…For JW patients, blood components such as albumin, clotting factors, or HBOCs are treated as "conscience" items by the Watchtower and Bible Tract Society; individual patients are generally permitted to decide for themselves on the acceptability of these "secondary" blood components (in contrast to "primary" blood components, such as RBCs, platelets, and plasma). 19 For this reason, the patient and the physician must engage in a detailed discussion of the product itself, what it is composed of, how it is manufactured, the risks involved with its use, and the proposed benefits, so the patient may make an individualized decision regarding the acceptability of HBOCs.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…For JW patients, blood components such as albumin, clotting factors, or HBOCs are treated as "conscience" items by the Watchtower and Bible Tract Society; individual patients are generally permitted to decide for themselves on the acceptability of these "secondary" blood components (in contrast to "primary" blood components, such as RBCs, platelets, and plasma). 19 For this reason, the patient and the physician must engage in a detailed discussion of the product itself, what it is composed of, how it is manufactured, the risks involved with its use, and the proposed benefits, so the patient may make an individualized decision regarding the acceptability of HBOCs.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…When asked about types of transfusion procedures, five (20%) JW patients agreed to utilize preoperative autologous blood donation (PAD), which contradicts the previous notion that PAD was not acceptable. 2 Almost 80% of the JWs agreed to be involved in acute normovolemic hemodilution, cardiopulmonary bypass, hemodialysis, or plasmapheresis, if required. All respondents agreed to utilize intraoperative cell salvage, which strengthens the previous notion that JWs are more willing to accept procedures that have continuous extracorporeal circuits.…”
Section: To the Editormentioning
confidence: 99%
“…
To transfuse a Jehovah's Witness in the face of her explicit instructions to the contrary would, in my opinion, violate her right to control her own body and show disrespect for the religious values by which she has chosen to live her life ([7], p. 419).
…”
Section: The Argument From “Extreme Existential Need”mentioning
confidence: 99%