Managing a Jehovah's Witness who agrees to blood transfusion

BMJ 1994;309:612 (3 September)

Letters

Managing a Jehovah's Witness who agrees to blood transfusion

EDITOR, - The article by Simon Finger and colleagues¹ and theensuing correspondence² illustrate the difficulties of treatingJehovah's Witnesses who refuse blood transfusions. I have beenfaced with the opposite problem, though a similar ethical dilemma.

A Previously fit Jehovah's Witness suffered multiple traumaafter trying to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge. He wasresuscitated and admitted to intensive care for stabilisationbefore the extensive orthopaedic surgery he would require. Hishaemoglobin concentration was 40 g/l and he was continuing tobleed, and it was decided that he required a transfusion beforesurgery. Though intubated and ventilated, he could make hisfeelings known, and the possibility of a transfusion was discussedwith him. To our surprise he agreed with our suggestion. I wasnot clear from our discussion how committed a Jehovah's Witnesshe was, but his family was adamant that he should not receiveblood. We . . . [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]