No Blood Transfusion for Jehovah's Witnesses

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Jehovah's witnesses’ faith allows them to seek medical help; however, they do not accept blood transfusions. This belief arises from a biblical passage that states "Only flesh with its soul- its blood-you must not eat (Genesis 9:3-4), "You must not eat the blood of any sort of flesh, because the soul of every sort of flesh is its blood. I will set my face against that person who eats blood...Anyone eating it will be cut off” (Leviticus 17:10, 13-14). These passages are interpreted by Jehovah's witnesses as forbidding the transfusion of any blood products. The following presentation will address legal and ethical issues that can arise from this scenario.

Keywords: Jehovah’s Witness, blood transfusion, blood, faith.

Administration of Blood Products to Jehovah’s Witnesses

Nurses are faced with harsh realities everyday; but what happens when young lives are at stake and decisions are being handled by the parents. This paper will explore the ethical dilemmas that come with Jehovah’s Witnesses and pediatric patients. “Jehovah’s Witnesses are a Christian denomination with many beliefs that stand out from mainstream Christianity. They are known for their potent evangelism and their unique translation of the Bible called the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures” (Beliefnet, 2014). Some of the beliefs that Jehovah’s witnesses have involve many contemporary issues; they stand strongly against abortion, homosexuality, divorce and blood transfusions.

Blood transfusions and ingesting blood is prohibited and considered wrong. Bone marrow are left to the individual and his principles to decide; other types of medical treatment are permitted. (Beliefnet, 2014). Jehovah’s Witnesses do not allow blood transfusions base...

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...dical emergency where there is not time to wait for court overruling, the staff is not legally obligated to obtain parental permission; in this case two consultants should make an entry in the patient’s chart that procedure or transfusion was necessary to save the patient’s life. As a consequence and overruling from the court system, the state withdraws parental decision in order to protect and promote health of the child (Effa-Heap, 2009).

According to Florida Statute 381.0041, donation and transfer of human tissue requires informed consent. Patients or legal representatives are to be informed of any procedure or transfusion and are legally required to give consent (2011); when the case involves a child whose life is in danger, the hospital may ask the court system to void the parent’s approval in order for the child to receive the treatment or blood products.

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