BMJ 1994;309:475 (13 August)

Letters

Managing patients who refuse blood transfusions Register of willing consultants exists

EDITOR, - Commenting on the article by Simon Finfer and colleagues concerning two Jehovah's Witnesses who refused blood transfusions,1 Arabinda Saha and Max Elstein suggest the establishment of a register of consultants willing to accept such patients so that referral and appropriate management can be undertaken.2

For many years Jehovah's Witnesses have themselves researched and maintained such a confidential register, names from which are released to bona fide applicants on a case by case basis. The register contains the names of some 2400 consultants in Britain and is part of a worldwide listing of more than 45 000 specialists. Any doctor who wishes to refer a patient who is a Jehovah's Witness or to consult with a colleague experienced in medical or surgical management not entailing blood transfusion is welcome to contact one of the Witnesses' hospital liaison committees, now established in 36 locations in Britain and in over 1000 . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

Managing patients who refuse blood transfusions: an ethical dilemma: Major trauma in two patients refusing blood transfusion
S Finfer, S Howell, J Miller, K Willett, and J Wilson-MacDonald
BMJ 1994 308: 1423-26. [Extract] [Full Text]

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