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Canadian Medical Association Journal
March 24'98

Jehovah's Witnesses and blood transfusions

CMAJ 1998;158:717-8

It is well known that one tenet of the Jehovah's Witness faith is to refuse blood transfusions, even at risk of organ injury or death.1 This stance has contributed significantly to the development of "bloodless" surgical techniques,2,3 as well as to successful legal suits against clinicians who have given transfusions to Jehovah's Witness patients when the alternative would almost certainly have been death.4

I am writing to inform CMAJ readers of a movement among a group of people who identify themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses (some claim to be serving as Elders and Hospital Liaison Committee members in congregations and branch facilities throughout the world) and who aim to reform the Witness approach to blood transfusion. Leaders of this movement argue that a blood transfusion is actually a form of organ transplantation (generally allowed by the church). Information presented at the Web site of the Associated Jehovah's Witnesses for Reform on Blood (www.visiworld.com/starter/newlight/index.htm) includes discussions from biblical, historical and theological perspectives.

Clinicians caring for Jehovah's Witnesses who are severely anemic or awaiting surgery now have a new ethical issue to consider. In the interests of full and complete disclosure, should they inform their patients about this movement or should they remain silent to avoid any perception of "religious interference"?

D. John Doyle, MD
Department of Anesthesia
Toronto Hospital
General Division
Toronto, Ont.
djdoyle@inforamp.net

References

  1. Victorino G, Wisner DH. Jehovah's Witnesses: unique problems in a unique trauma population. J Am Coll Surg 1997;184(5):458-68.
  2. Rosengart TK, Helm RE, DeBois WJ, Garcia N, Krieger KH, Isom OW. Open heart operations without transfusion using a multimodality blood conservation strategy in 50 Jehovah's Witness patients: implications for a "bloodless" surgical technique. J Am Coll Surg 1997;184(6):618-29.
  3. Mann MC, Votto J, Kambe J, McNamee MJ. Management of the severely anemic patient who refuses transfusion: lessons learned during the care of a Jehovah's Witness. Ann Intern Med 1992;117(12):1042-8.
  4. Brahams D. Jehovah's Witness transfused without consent: a Canadian case. Lancet 1989;2(8676):1407-8.
Editor's note: The Web site mentioned in this letter is not recognized by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. The official position of the Society on the issue of blood transfusion is presented at www.watchtower.org.

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