Taking a medical history by asking questions is a normal, appropriate assessment method. A provider also does not legally need permission to exchange information with former or other current healthcare providers for treatment purposes. Is that what you mean?
Blood issue is becoming unavoidable for me since she wants another child
by Check_Your_Premises 17 Replies latest watchtower medical
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M.J.
First off, no one besides you or other relevant medical people have any right to access information from your medical records without her or your permission (if she is incapable). Only you can view them. When the HLC people came to see my wife they were not given any info other than what I authorized. They tried to get me to sign a form that would allow them full access but I essentially told them to take a hike.
With hemorrage, it would be RED BLOOD CELLS, or more specifically, HEMOGLOBIN (97% of the RBC), the very "LIFE" of the blood. This is the part of the blood that carries oxygen ("breath") from the lungs to the rest of the body--most importantly, the brain. The entire concern is what the hemogobin count is in the bloodstream (which can be "expanded" with liquids so it keeps flowing normally), and whether or not the body is receiving enough oxygen.3. What blood components would be likely to be required?
The WTS makes hemoglobin transfusions a conscience matter, which make Hemopure and Polyheme an option that could save a life in such a case. This is a totally hypocritical stance, by the way, as hemoglobin is not a "minor fraction" by any means, but the one true, core life-sustaining component of blood. Such products were not available to us and I do not know a lot about them. Typically the hemoglobin has to be "packaged" with the RBC, but these technologies find a way around that.
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Check_Your_Premises
Does anyone know if the new HIPPA law prevents them from asking you if you received a transfusion?
Let me clarify, does the law prevent the JW from asking if she received a transfusion. Let's say she did. Can they legally ask her? Can I threaten them if they push it?
I understand there was a change which made it a da offense. In that case though, how would they know? You don't investigate to da someone?! What if she got one and just didn't tell them?
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jgnat
There's nothing stopping a JW relative or fellow congregation member from asking your wife if she had a transfusion.
Your wife, of course, has the choice of telling them or not.
Where HIPPA comes in, is that outsiders cannot ask the HEALTH STAFF for any details of your wife's treatment. If a health staff member shared that information without your wife's permission, they would be in breach of HIPPA.
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M.J.
What if she got one and just didn't tell them?
Entirely possible. Someone posted before that dubs will often take a transfusion on the sly, according to medical personnel. Anyone remember this?
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Scully
Let me clarify, does the law prevent the JW from asking if she received a transfusion. Let's say she did. Can they legally ask her? Can I threaten them if they push it?
I understand there was a change which made it a da offense. In that case though, how would they know? You don't investigate to da someone?! What if she got one and just didn't tell them?
What the law does is make the unauthorized disclosure of someone's medical information to another party illegal. JWs can ask whatever they want of whomever they want. It is the health care provider's role to refuse to divulge that information unless there is signed consent to the contrary.
You also have the right to post a NO VISITORS - PLEASE REPORT TO THE NURSING STATION sign on the door of your hospital room. You can talk to the nurses and warn them that certain people may try to pry information from the medical record and that you do not want them anywhere near you, your wife or your child. If you know the names of JWs who may try to invade your privacy, provide a list to the nursing staff, with instructions to contact security and have them escorted from the premises. When your wife registers at the hospital, do not disclose religious affiliation, otherwise it becomes part of the computer record and some JW medical records clerk could glean that information during a search for JW patients. (FYI, there is a uber-JW working in the admitting department of the hospital where I work, so I am not just making up scenarios to scare people.)
Your wife certainly has every right to accept a blood transfusion if she decides that she wants one. She doesn't have to disclose the information to anyone. Just be aware that if she has JW visitors who see her pale as a sheet one day (prior to having a transfusion) and going home with rosy cheeks and lots of energy (after having a transfusion) some JWs have enough wherewithall to put 2 and 2 together. Try to limit visitors until after getting home from hospital.
BTW, it sounds as though your wife was in the midst of grieving over the loss of your son when the JWs glommed on to her and got her studying. I've seen this kind of thing happen far too often, and I can't help but think of them as emotional vultures.
Would your wife understand if you said you just weren't ready to try for another child just yet? A year of grieving may only be scratching the surface for you... it may be too soon just yet, especially considering all the changes that have happened in the last year with her studying and getting baptized. You already know the risks of her having another abruption... and the risk of a transfusion subsequent to that... you can say you just aren't ready to lose her or another child that way...
Take care, Scully
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Check_Your_Premises
BTW, it sounds as though your wife was in the midst of grieving over the loss of your son when the JWs glommed on to her and got her studying. I've seen this kind of thing happen far too often, and I can't help but think of them as emotional vultures.
Would your wife understand if you said you just weren't ready to try for another child just yet? A year of grieving may only be scratching the surface for you... it may be too soon just yet, especially considering all the changes that have happened in the last year with her studying and getting baptized. You already know the risks of her having another abruption... and the risk of a transfusion subsequent to that... you can say you just aren't ready to lose her or another child that way...
You pretty much nailed it with the first part Scully. She already had jw-itis (belief that jw are God's organization), but she didn't really commit to it until after our son's death. She was baptized within 5 months of his death. I remember how impressed I was by all of the concerned jw who immediately descended on our hospital once I put the word out. Now I realize they were also there to talk her out of taking any blood.
Well the next pregnancy is something we agreed on almost immediately. For me, it is the need to not back down from life. I also want to have more than one child (my other two are step). For her, I think it is simply the deeply instinctive need to hold her baby. It is like a amputee who feels pain in their lost limb.
Now with all I have learned, and after talking to MJ, this is just one extra concern we have going in. I don't know what the right answer is. I want another child VERY badly. I am very afraid that this irrational ruling from 12-14 addled men could lead to her unecessary death. I don't want to be a party to that. I don't want her death on my conscience.
Also, since this is such a deeply emotional subject for both of us, I thought it might provide a decent avenue of approach for making her aware that the org plays it fast and loose with the lives of it's members. "You will know them by the fruit they bear".
Indeed.
CYP
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M.J.
I really liked TDs approach on demonstrating to his wife where the REAL decision comes from, within themselves and their Bible Trained Conscience® or from the WTS: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/16/96213/1642640/post.ashx#1642640
I told her I would respect her wishes, but I needed to know in no uncertain terms that those wishes were hers.
"What do you mean?" She said.
"Well, would you accept blood fractions?" I said
"Yes."
"Would you accept Hempure?"
"What's that?"
"It's one of the new oxygen carrying blood substitutes. It's made by extracting the hemoglobin from the blood of cattle and then stabilizing it through polymerization."
"I'm not sure about that one."
"Why not?"
"I mean I'll have to look that one up."
"Well here, I have a Scientific American from a couple of years ago that discussed these new blood substitutes in detail. Let me go get it for you." (I get up and head for the stairs.)
"That's not what I meant."
"I'm sorry?"
"I mean I'll have to look it up in the publications."
"JW publications?"
"Of course."
"What will JW publications tell you that the Scientific American won't? Whether the preparation is a matter of conscience or not?"
....Silence......
"You see the problem here don't you?"
....Silence.....
"Well let's forget about Hemopure for now. Take some time and think about it....."