I've been asked a question regarding the WT view of this. Can someone tell me:
1. What this is?
2. WT Society's current view.
Thank you.
Extra corporeal blood circulation
by benext 8 Replies latest watchtower medical
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blondie
Sounds like kidney dialysis or similar medical treatments.. As long as the circuit of blood flow is unbroken and only the patient's blood is used (not pre-stored), this has been an acceptable procedure for JWs.
extracorporeal circulation
Diversion of blood flow through a circuit located outside the body but continuous with the bodily circulation.
*** w89 3/1 30 Questions From Readers ***
In a somewhat different process, autologous blood can be diverted from a patient to a hemodialysis device (artificial kidney) or a heart-lung pump. The blood flows out through a tube to the artificial organ that pumps and filters (or oxygenates) it, and then it returns to the patient?s circulatory system. Some Christians have permitted this if the equipment is not primed with stored blood. They have viewed the external tubing as elongating their circulatory system so that blood might pass through an artificial organ. They have felt that the blood in this closed circuit was still part of them and did not need to be ?poured out.?What, though, if the flow of such autologous blood stopped briefly, such as if a heart-lung machine is shut down while the surgeon checks the integrity of coronary-bypass grafts?
Actually, the Biblical emphasis is not on the issue of continuous flow. Even aside from surgery, a person?s heart might stop briefly and then resume. His circulatory system would not have to be emptied and his blood disposed of just because blood flow had stopped during the cardiac arrest. Hence, a Christian having to decide whether to permit his blood to be diverted through some external device ought to focus, not primarily on whether a brief interruption in flow might occur, but on whether he conscientiously felt that the diverted blood would still be part of his circulatory system.?Galatians 6:5.
What about induced hemodilution? Some surgeons believe that it is advantageous for a patient?s blood to be diluted during surgery. Thus, at the start of an operation, they direct some blood to storage bags outside a patient?s body and replace such with nonblood fluids; later, the blood is allowed to flow from the bags back to the patient. Since Christians do not let their blood be stored, some physicians have adapted this procedure, arranging the equipment in a circuit that is constantly linked to the patient?s circulatory system. Some Christians have accepted this, others have refused. Again, each individual must decide whether he would consider the blood diverted in such a hemodilution circuit to be similar to that flowing through a heart/lung machine, or he would think of it as blood that left him and therefore should be disposed of.
A final example of autologous blood use involves recovering and reusing blood during surgery. Equipment is used to aspirate blood from the wound, pump it out through a filter (to remove clots or debris) or a centrifuge (to eliminate fluids), and then direct it back into the patient. Many Christians have been very concerned whether in such salvage there might be any brief interruption of blood flow. Yet, as mentioned, a more Biblical concern is whether the blood escaping into a surgical wound is still part of the person. Does the fact that the blood has flowed from his circulatory system into the wound mean that it should be ?poured out,? like the blood mentioned at Leviticus 17:13? If an individual believes so, he would probably refuse to permit such blood salvage. Yet, another Christian (who also would not let blood flow from him, be stored for some time, and later be put back into him) might conclude that a circuit with recovery from a surgical site and ongoing reinfusion would not violate his trained conscience.
g98 12/8 21 Doctors Take a New Look at Bloodless Surgery ***
After the conference in Riga and upon hearing of Latvia?s need, Jehovah?s Witnesses in Sweden donated two cell-saver machines to Latvia. The arrival of the first one and the benefits of bloodless surgery created so much enthusiasm in Latvia that the event received national television coverage there. -
benext
Thank you Blondie. The person in question had surgery for scoliosis where this technique was used. This was 15 years ago. She was DF'd back then and this year her mother has completely cut off all association with her. I will pass this info along.
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benext
I've just been informed she was 14 at the time of DFing.
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blondie
It would be interesting, benext, to find out based on that article above what principle he/she violated regarding the circulation of her blood outside her body.
These little rules regarding blood change all the time. Something done ten years ago might not be a DFing offense now.
Blondie (will use hemoglobin-based products)
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benext
The circumstances surrounding this whole thing are quite bizzare. Her non-JW aunt took her to the doctor. The mother found out that during surgery "blood was running through tubes outside her" and went to the elders. The elders during their inquisition asked her how she felt about this and she told them given the same circumstances she'd do it again. It was decided due to her lack of repentance to DF her.
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blondie
Well, benext, if it were her own blood, based on this info, she did nothing to violate the WT "laws." May be it was someone else's blood.
Blondie
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benext
Blondie there's a possibility the machine was primed with outside blood. I don't know how much probing the elders did. They may have heard the word "blood" and associated it with a transfusion. It seems they didn't appreciate her attitude when in the JC. I was supposed to meet her next week but that's been postponed until next month at least. Her concern is her mother cutting her off now because of her status. She doesn't want to go back to the org., so bringing this info to the elders is not an issue.
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blondie
Well, benext, I guess the best thing is to be as loving as possible with her mom. My family don't need a DFing offense to shun family members. Their standards are higher than God's.--Blondie