Synthetic Blood in 2 Years? How Will the GB Shoot This Down?

by DarioKehl 16 Replies latest watchtower medical

• 

  OrphanCrow

  I don't think that the WTS will be in favour of this kind of "synthetic blood".

  They will say that it is prohibited because the source that is used to make the product is human blood.

  As far as stem cells go, Jehovah's Witnesses have been treated with stem cell transplantation for years already.

  For example, in 2004, the American Society of Clinical oncology published a study that treated 26 Jehovah's Witnesses with autologous stem cell transplantation.

  Autologous Stem-Cell Transplantation Can Be Performed Safely Without the Use of Blood
  Purpose Autologous stem-cell transplantation has been shown to be a curative procedure for a variety of leukemias and lymphomas. Most transplants require RBC and platelet support. We report the ability to perform autologous transplantation without blood-product support.
  Subjects and Methods In this study, we treated 26 patients with religious objection to blood products with autologous stem-cell support without the use of any blood products. Patients received a combination of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), erythropoietin, and interleukin-11 or G-CSF alone to mobilize stem cells. Post-transplant patients received intravenous iron, erythropoietin, G-CSF, and epsilon aminocaproic acid.
  Results There were two major bleeding complications (8%), with two treatment-related deaths (8%). There were three minor bleeding complications (12%). The median fall in hemoglobin level was 4.7 g/dL; the median hemoglobin level 30 days after transplantation was 9.2 g/dL. The median total number of days with platelet count less than 10 × 109/L was 4 days; the median days to platelet recovery greater than 20 × 109/L was 12 days.
  Conclusion Autologous stem-cell transplantation can be performed safely without the use of any blood products.

  And a 2015 study published in the same journal:

  Autologous Stem-Cell Transplantation Without Hematopoietic Support for the Treatment of Hematologic Malignancies in Jehovah's Witnesses

  It appears that as long as the stem cell treatment does not use blood as a source, stem cell transplantation is not prohibited for Jehovah's Witnesses.

  bafh: So technically, they are "manufactured" in that they came from a lab - but they are still blood cells. So my vote is they don't allow it even if it didn't come from a person or animal.

  Hemopure, the synthetic blood (oxygen carrier/blood doping agent) made from bovine blood, is manufactured in a lab. Hemopure has WTS approval.

  This one won't pass simply because the source is human blood. (and it might have something to do with the JWs who have interests in Hemopure).
• 

  millie210

  The Liaison Committee in my area has approved the use of the epidural blood patch

  which is basically a mini autologous transfusion for women after childbirth. They seem to be creeping further and further in to the technology of what is available.
• 

  rebel8

  rebel8, curious around what year did this happen?

  It would have been the mid 1980s.
  
• 

  OrphanCrow

  I just want to add some trivia about stem cells and the resulting medical research that has happened since stem cells were first discovered back in 1961.

  Transplantable stem cells were discovered by two Canadians - Dr. James Till at the Ontario Cancer Institute in Toronto.

  Of course, one of the concerns, of the research field that engaged in stem cell research, was how to acquire stem cells. One of the sources for these stem cells was blood - bone marrow and fat both contain precious stem cells. The company who was one of the first to develop technology for harvesting stem cells was Haemonetics.

  Haemonetics emerged onto the biotechnology playing field in 1971, I believe, but their technology had been around for a while already. The company was formed out of necessity - When Baxter purchased American Hospital Supply some of the technology that was being produced by AHS, from which current 'bloodless surgery' relies on, was in direct competition to one of Baxter's existing concerns. This was likely another emerging biotech company based in either Europe or Britain. So Haemonetics was born. Just in time to develop stem cell harvesting technology- their early success was based on their stem cell harvesting technology.

  What came out of that early technology for stem cell harvesting was the Haemonetics cell saver machine. The "bloodless surgery" that is recommended for JWs relies on cell savers.

  Some of the early problems encountered with cell savers was that the re-introduction of a patient's blood often had material in it that was detrimental to the patient's health - bone chips, bone marrow and fat, and malignant cancer cells . So cell savers moved up a notch in its technology - Haemonetics added a filtering system that filtered out (as waste) those elements (which included stem cells). When a person's blood is scavenged with a cell saver, it is "washed' and then re-transfused back into the patient.

  The Haemonetics cell saver is just one of the company's tools in its bag of technology that appeals to the stem cell field of research. And, it is the Haemonetics company that is linked to WTS people who work in the field of blood management.

  
  
• 

  BizzyBee

  The GB could make a case either way - artificial blood mimics the life force that is in blood - Jehovah will not be mocked! - etc., etc. Or, as mentioned, they could hail it as a victory for Jehovah's people.

  Either way, the real issue will be - which choice benefits the WTBTS most?
• 

  OrphanCrow

  Either way, the real issue will be - which choice benefits the WTBTS most?

  Exactly. It will not be what benefits the ordinary JW - it will depend on whether or not the JWs with money have invested in the company that will be making this new artificial blood.

  My guess is that this new blood will be off limits. Approving it would be in direct competition to the product that the WTS currently promotes - Hemopure. The JW community is essential to the promotion of Hemopure. It is how Hemopure has their toe-hold in the States - through the compassionate use program.

  Money talks and bullshit walks.
• 

  Vidiot

  I dunno.

  The might quietly make it a "conscience matter", just to avoid any potential lawsuits.

  After all, they certainly have enough of those to deal with already.