Traumatically injured Jehovah's Witnesses: a sixteen-year experience of treatment and transfusion dilemmas at a level I trauma center.
Traumatically injured Jehovah's Witnesses pose difficult management problems because of their refusal to accept blood transfusions. This retrospective review of all inpatient traumatically injured Jehovah's Witnesses at a level I trauma center over the past 16 years revealed 77 patients with 92% blunt and 8% penetrating injuries. The primary physician was aware of their unique religious status in only 32% of cases. Transfusion was performed in only 4 (5.2%) cases even though it was desired by the physician in 11 (14%) cases. One transfusion was performed against the patient's will. One minor was transfused using a court order. Two transfusions were performed in the trauma room before the patients' religious status was known. Major changes in therapeutic plans were made as a result of the patients' Jehovah's Witness status in 10 cases (13%). Early knowledge of the patient's religious status is essential to optimize patient care.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002835:Christianity; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014193:Trauma Centers; D016312:Treatment Refusal; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000628:therapy*; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000628:therapy*