RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Preanesthetic Assessment of the Jehovah's Witness Patient
JF Ochsner Journal
JO Ochsner J
FD O. P. Jindal Global University
SP 61
OP 69
VO 12
IS 1
A1 Eric S. Lin
A1 Alan D. Kaye
A1 Amir R. Baluch
YR 2012
UL http://www.ochsnerjournal.org/content/12/1/61.abstract
AB The Jehovah's Witnesses, a religious group of 7 million people in more than 200 countries, teaches its followers to not accept blood, resulting in potentially challenging and ethical dilemmas for anesthesiologists. In recent years, Jehovah's Witnesses changed certain elements of their approach to blood transfusion practice, including accepting autologous transfusions in certain circumstances. We examine mechanisms to resolve ethical conflicts, such as additional medical consultations with other involved physicians, surgeons, and anesthesiologists; short-term counseling or psychiatric consultation for patient and family; case management conferences; consultation with individuals trained in clinical ethics or a hospital-based ethics committee; and discussions with hospital administration. We also discuss treatment options, including certain blood products, anesthetic techniques, and pharmacological interventions.