More Bloody Confusion....

by hillary_step 22 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  Scully

  Hi Xena:

  With regard to

  normal patient confidentiality

  all a patient has to say to a nurse when there are friends in the room visiting/spying is "I'd really like to be alone for a while" and if that nurse were me, I'd shoo everyone out of that room SO FAST and not give it a second thought. Often I can discern when a patient has something on their mind that they require a few minutes to speak to me privately, and I have NO problem with vacating a room by telling visitors that a patient needs their rest. (Also, asking them to assist me by holding the receiving end of an enema bag or barf basin clears a room of visitors like nothing else! ) As a matter of fact, there are plenty of opportunities for patients to have private time with a nurse. In a case where blood might become an issue, it's not uncommon for a nurse to have to assess a patient every 1-2 hours. Unless the patient gives their expressed permission for visitors to stay, I am legally obliged to ask visitors to step out of the room while that part of the patient's medical care is carried out. It doesn't matter if the visitors are family members, friends, "ministers" or whatever. If I ask them to leave and they put up a fuss, I can most certainly have security escort them off the premises, and I have had to resort to that measure before, but most people would find that kind of thing very embarrassing, and would like to avoid it if possible.

  If I ever had a JW patient who needed blood, I would - as a former JW myself - find a way to speak to them privately (without them knowing my former affiliation) to ascertain their true wishes, without the pressure or judgement of family / congregation members looming over them.

  I'd really like to see something from AJWRB that really helps hospital staff understand the kind of pressure and coercion that goes on among JWs when the blood issue arises.

  Love, Scully
• 

  SYN

  Excellent post, and they're definitely busy phasing it out, as it's one of their most damaging "doctrines" by far!

  And, nice to see you again, HS!
• 

  Sam Beli

  Greetings HS, and thank you for bringing this development to our attention. It is refreshing to hear about some JWs who are putting their personal survival ahead of their servitude to an organization of men. It is also highly commendable that this particular healthcare worker does not betray the confidence of these JW patients. Bravo to her!

  The role of physicians and surgeons is often very difficult, especially when it comes to JWs and the blood issue. Dr Muramoto has written eloquently on this subject. His methods include "rational non-interventional paternalism." You can read more about it here:

  http://www.ajwrb.org/physicians/index.shtml

  I am a little surprised to learn that "whole blood" is apparently used so frequently in the UK. Is this really the practice? In the states it is rare for whole blood to be transfused. Instead, individual parts (fractions) are usually administered; though these "parts" may be complex, such as plasma. Cynics claim that this approach is just so that the patient can be charged more for each component. Others state that the appropriate "fraction" is given to meet the particular need of each patient, allowing for better use of the somewhat limited blood supply.

  Warm regards to all,

  Sam B.
• 

  Pork Chop

  Scully, in the interest of accuracy I'd like to point out that it is against Organizational policy to disfellowship or disassociate someone who is dead. That momentous decision went all the way to the governing body because the service department was unable to make a decision.
• 

  deddaisy

  Pleasuredome,

  my mother was right there with you, when she was admitted to the hospital, she could not explain to me something that her very life may have depended on. This is insanity. Witness relatives explained to the surgeon that she would not accept blood if it became an issue. (And the explanation is usually "because 'so and so' is one of Jehovah's Witnesses," it's not necessary to really explain why Jehovah's Witnesses won't except blood.) And my young, baptized nephews are the same. When I drive them some place they always remind me not to get into an accident if they don't have their blood cards on them. (they think I'll tell the hospital to give them blood.) When I ask them why they wouldn't accept blood, they say something like, "wouldn't make it to the new system," "Jehovah would be upset," or "you know Aunt Chrissie!"

  It's like the WTS reps say one thing to the press, and another to JWs........................

  edited to add: PC, isn't it funny that it had to go that far ? It seems only common sense that you could not "hear" one to find out one's attitude, along with one's side of the story, if one was dead. Good Lord, this would be like having a trial with a dead defendant. Gee that GB is on the ball.

  Edited by - deddaisy on 13 December 2002 15:27:37
• 

  Pleasuredome

  deddaisy

  thats right... what was the WTS encouraging JWs to say when asked about why they wouldnt do this or that? they told them to explain their convictions and not to say "it's my religion". hey, we wouldn't want people to think they were a cult now, would we?
• 

  refiners fire

  It seems illogical to disfellowship someone who is dead.

  After all, in dub lore the dead are unconscious and know nothing. There is no post death existance. Hence being cursed doesnt affect the dead "Soul", as there isnt one. If its so that only Jehovah "knows the inner heart" why would his organization be concerned with disfellowshipping the dead? Disfellowshipping the dead. Baptising the dead.

  How sick and twisted it has all really become.
• 

  Lee Elder

  Hi Scully,

  You wrote:

  "I'd really like to see something from AJWRB that really helps hospital staff understand the kind of
  pressure and coercion that goes on among JWs when the blood issue arises."

  What would be the most useful format/layout/wording?
  Please discuss this w/your colleagues and advise us.
  I happen to agree with you.

  Best regards,

  Lee
• 

  Lee Elder

  Hillary_step:

  Could you please post the article or add quotation marks to the direct quotes from the article?

  Thanks,

  Lee
• 

  No Apologies

  Lee,

  You need to form your own Hospital Liason Committees. Prepare some kind of presentation that outlines how the HLCs are only there to intimidate JWs and keep them in line.

  Somehow their HLCs managed to get their foot in the doors as a legitimate entity. The medical community needs to get the real story.

  I have no idea where to start something like this, and I have little in the way of resources or medical knowledge, but I would be willing to learn or help.