Letter in Medical Journal

by richard 2 Replies latest watchtower medical

  • richard
    richard

    While doing a medical literature search on JWs and blood transfusion, I came across the following remarkable letter in a 1999-edition of "The Lancet".

    A rare and bloodless

    situation.

    Sir, I recently came across an

    interesting and rare situation while

    working overseas for the medical aid

    organisation Médecins Sans Frontières.

    One day, just before anaesthetising an

    otherwise healthy young woman for a

    laparotomy, I was told by one of the

    other surgeons that my surgeon was a

    Jehovah s Witness, who would not

    allow blood to be given to his patients.

    I was stunned by this restriction.

    The extent of surgery was not clear

    from the onset. Routine haemoglobin

    estimations were not done in this

    hospital before surgery and blood was

    difficult to obtain. I was not unduly

    worried, but the warning could not be

    ignored. Since I was the only

    anaesthetist in the hospital and I was a

    guest in the country, I decided to

    postpone surgery to discuss the

    situation with the senior surgeon. The

    problem was well known to his

    colleagues but efforts to come to a

    solution seemed to have failed in the

    past. I then discussed the situation

    further with my surgeon.

    His argument consisted mainly that

    the patient and her family were

    aware of the fact that he was a

    Jehovah s Witness and that she had

    agreed not to be given blood. He said

    that as the consultant surgeon he

    decided that she would not be given

    blood. I countered that as the

    consultant anaesthetist I would give

    blood whenever I felt it necessary

    without reference to the surgeon. He

    smiled at me and said that he respected

    my point of view, and added that in

    that case he would have to leave theatre

    for the duration of the blood

    transfusion. This amused me greatly. I

    decided not to delay any further and I

    anaesthetised the patient without

    difficulty and the operation proceeded

    without blood loss.

    Eric Vreede

    Médecins Sans Frontières, London EC1R5DL,

    UK

    (e-mail: [email protected])

    THE LANCET Vol 354 November 13, 1999

  • dh
    dh

    talk about pontius pilate washing his hands clean

    .

  • Scully
    Scully

    I wonder if the JW doctor was also working with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).

    If so, check out the Charter of Médecins Sans Frontières: http://www.msf.ca/about/charter.htm

    Médecins Sans Frontières offers assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to victims of armed conflict, without discrimination and irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation.

    Médecins Sans Frontières observes neutrality and impartiality in the name of universal medical ethics and the right to humanitarian assistance and demands full and unhindered freedom in the exercise of its functions.

    Médecins Sans Frontières' volunteers promise to honour their professional code of ethics and to maintain complete independence from all political, economic and religious powers.

    As volunteers, members are aware of the risks and dangers of the missions they undertake and have no right to compensation for themselves or their beneficiaries other than that which Médecins Sans Frontières is able to afford them.

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