Medical, legal and ethical considerations concerning the choice of bloodless medicine by Jehovah's Witnesses.
The management of patients who are Jehovah's Witnesses involves important medical, legal, and ethical considerations. A court case in Japan upheld 'the patient's right to decision-making' as part of the patient's 'personal right.' When the patient is a mature minor, his or her wishes should also be respected. Even when the patient is a young child, all appropriate and available alternatives should be exhausted before considering a blood transfusion. Transfusion-alternative strategies have made it easier to choose bloodless medicine and surgery. This matter of treating the 'whole person' should be considered with all its related factors in mind.
Ariga
Tomonori
T
Hospital Information Services for Jehovah's Witnesses (Japan), Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, 1271 Nakashinden, Ebina-City, Kanagawa, 243-0496 Japan. hisoffice@branch.email.ne.jp
Hayasaki
Shiro
S
D001802:Blood Substitutes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D033221:Jehovah's Witnesses; D033242:Minors / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D012068:Religion and Medicine
D001802:Blood Substitutes