Blood transfusions in Jehovah’s Witness patients
Section: Ethics and Society
How to quote
Rivera Caravaca JM, Pinar Martínez E, Asensio García L, Herrero Carrasco J. Transfusiones sanguíneas en pacientes testigos de Jehová. Metas Enferm oct 2015; 18(8): 71-75.
Authors
1José Miguel Rivera Caravaca, 2Enrique Pinar Martínez, 3Laura Asensio García, 3Josué Herrero Carrasco
Position
1 Enfermero. Asamblea Comarcal de la Cruz Roja. Molina de Segura-Vega Media. Molina de Segura (Murcia).2 Enfermero. Hospital Universitario de Torrevieja. Torrevieja (Alicante).3 Enfermera/o. Hospital Perpetuo Socorro. Cartagena (Murcia).
Contact address
José Miguel Rivera Caravaca. C/ Los Lirios, 10. Urb. Altorreal. 30506 Molina de Segura (Murcia).
Contact email: jmrivera429@gmail.com
Abstract
The refusal to receive blood transfusions by Jehovah’s Witnesses will occasionally lead to a clash between patients’ beliefs and what healthcare professionals consider adequate for them. This refusal is based upon texts from the Old and New Testament, and extends beyond the hospitalization process, being the basis of a set of values and beliefs which form a complete way of life. This problem can be analyzed from different perspectives, and it is the cause for ethical, legal, economic and healthcare conflicts.
From a holistic perspective, it entails taking into account the spiritual or religious beliefs of the patient, and respect to their will and decisions about their own health. From a biomedical approach, this holistic perspective is more difficult to achieve, and emotional and spiritual aspects are often taken into lower consideration, even though these aspects will also have an impact on patient’s health. Therefore, in recent years it has become a challenge to find alternatives and solutions to satisfy the needs of Jehovah’s Witnesses as well as the needs of healthcare professionals. The objective of the present paper is to analyze the different interpretations that can be made about the issue of blood transfusions among Jehovah’s Witnesses from different perspectives, as well as to assess any current alternative options and solutions.
Keywords:
Jehovah’s Witnesses; blood transfusion; transfusion of blood components; Bioethics
Versión en Español
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