I received this forwarded e-mail from a JW family member.
My comments in yeller.
> Hazards of Transfusions" (S.H.O.T.). There are two main factors that
> have influenced the UK government to look into alternatives for blood
> transfusions in that country.
>
> 1) The fact that so many are refusing blood, and 3 out of 4 are NOT
> Jehovah's Witnesses and
Is this even for life-threatening cases?
>
> 2) The extreme expense involved with blood.
>
> For instance, for a fresh liter of blood, it would cost 79 per liter. (Approx. $112 per liter)
> For frozen blood it's 253 per liter (Approx. $360 per liter), however
> because of a lot of spillage, waste, etc, on average it actually costs
> closer to 1500 per liter. (Approx. $2130 per liter, the size of a
> medium size water bottle!!)I was under the impression that many bloodless alternatives were more expensive (at this time, perhaps not in the future). Is this incorrect?
> It was obvious to the UK government that they had to do
> something based on these two factors.
>> In response, UK government approached hospitals around the
> country, asking them to look into alternative means to blood
> transfusions. A whole year later, the UK Government revisited
> the hospitals to see what they had come up with.
>
> The hospitals had done NOTHING at all. So, the UK Government
> looked at the issue again, and decided to look to certain charitable
> organizations in the community for help and or suggestions.
>
> Out of all the organizations, they chose Jehovah's Witnesses.
> And there were four reasons why they did.
>
> 1) We already have a unique relationship with many surgeons
> around the United Kingdom,
>
> 2) We are definitely well informed on the matter of blood, <--- ROFLOL>
> 3) We're well trained communicators (thanks to the theocratic
> school, no doubt) and
>
> 4) We're cheap.
>
> The brothers in the UK are very excited. They can't believe that
> they are helping the National Health Authority at the Government's
> request!
>
> For once, it's not Jehovah's Witnesses approaching the Government,
> but the Government approaching Jehovah's Witnesses!
>
> One Doctor said, '"We form a very collaborative association."
> (Speaking of the Medical Staff and Jehovah's Witnesses) UK
> Bethel was invited to meet with Lord Hunt, secretary of state for
> health, and during the meeting, Lord Hunt said that they'd be
> interested in setting up bloodless surgery centers around the UK.
>
[...]
> The UK Government said that Jehovah's Witnesses must have
> seen, way ahead of time, the`problems in connection with blood
> transfusions, and the need for changes.
Well, of course they saw the danger of transfusions ahead of time. That's why they disfellowshiped all along for it.
>
> Even a leading medical journal in New York, in an editorial said
> that one day, blood transfusions will be regarded as an absurdity
> and something barbaric'. (End of article)
>
> (Perhaps down the road, it will be viewed in the same manner as
> the old practice of blood-letting. Ridiculous. A.D.)
Or perhaps it will be viewed in the same manner as the old practice of organ transplants. Cannabilistic. Oh, wait. Only the JW's viewed it that that way.
LucidSky
Edited by - LucidSky on 19 July 2002 16:18:28