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Jehovah’s Witnesses. And their refusal of Blood Transfusions in the 21 st Century. EU. Who/What are Jehovah’s Witnesses?. Christian denomination from US late 19 th Century Forbids humans consuming human/animal blood under any circumstances includes through intravenous
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Jehovah’s Witnesses And their refusal of Blood Transfusions in the 21st Century. EU
Who/What are Jehovah’s Witnesses? • Christian denomination from US late 19th Century • Forbids humans consuming human/animal blood under any circumstances includes through intravenous • Refuse blood transfusions, major blood transfusions, post/intra-operative blood salvage http://www.dkimages.com
Who/What are Jehovah’s Witnesses? • “Only flesh with its soul-its blood-you must not eat” –Genesis 9:3,4. • “[You must] pour its blood out and cover it with dust” – Leviticus 17:13,14. • “abstain from…what is strangled and from blood” Acts 15:19-21 • Breach these rules damages relationship with Jehovah • Do seek medical care Saline, lactated Ringer’s solution, albumin, dextrans
What is a Blood Transfusion? • Transfer whole blood/components from donor to recipient • Increase ability to carry oxygen • Restore blood volume • Improve clotting ability • Improve immunity to infection http://health.howstuffworks.com/aspirin3
Ethics and Struggles • “Every human being of adult years and sound mind has a right to determine what shall be done with his own body” • Hospitals and doctors often petition court override patient’s decision • Notions: abandonment of a child, risk of liability for the doctor and hospital
Ethics and Struggles • Medically ethical treat a patient • Physicians find it difficult to understand why Jehovah’s Witness patient would refuse a life saving procedure • Ethically and legally important for a doctor to obtain informed consent from patient before treatment • Failure to obtain consent lead to grave legal consequences criminal charges (battery, assault)
Alternatives to Blood Transfusions • Volume Expanders • Saline • Lactated Ringer’s solution • Albumin • Dextrans • Growth Factors • Erythropoietin http://www.dkimages.com/discover/Home/Health-and-Beauty/Human-Body/Circulatory-System/Blood/Transfusions/Transfusions-2.html
Alternatives to Blood Transfusions • Blood Substitues • Currently no real substitute • Hemoglobin-based Oxygen Carriers (rarely tested) • Perfluorochemical Compounds (rarely tested)
Resources • _____.(November 28,2006). Alternatives To Blood Transfusion. Retrieved December 18, 2007 from http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_1_4X_Alternatives_To_Blood _Transfusion.asp?sitearea=ETO • ____.(June 2004). Jehovah’s Witnesses and Blood Transfusions. Retrieved December 18, 2007 from • http://www.publicadvocate.vic.go v.au/media/docs/C07-Jehovahs- Witnesses-and-Blood-Transfusions-fa6b29e7-02c6-4ff1-8d4a-994f45636f2f.rt8 • ____.(October 31, 2006). Bloot Transfusion. Retrieved December 16, 2007 from http://www.hmc.psu.edu/healthinfo/b/bloodtransfusion.htm • Carbonnea, André.(2003).Ethical Issues and the Religious and Historical Basis for the Objection of Jehovah’s Witnesses to Blood Transfusion Therapy. Lewiston, New York: The Edwin Mellen Press. • Van der Linden, Philippe.(2006).The effects of colloid solutions on hemostasis. Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, s30-s39. • Woolston, Chris. (___). ‘Bloodless’ Surgery: new drugs and technologies may make many transfusions unnecessary. Retrieved December 20,2007 from http://www.record.wustl.edu/archive/1997/05-15-97/5393.html