Epogen and Jehovah's

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Has anyone had a Jehova Witness decline epogen or the other erythropoetin stimulating types of injections? We have an ortho doc who has treated many and he is concerned that there may be albumin in it and some patients may not take it. So far, they all have.

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sharann: Some Witnesses may refuse it because it does contain some blood; it just depends on the individual.

Check your PM; I can give you info. re: a good site for additional info. Just can't post it here due to TOS.

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My mother-in-law was a Jehovah's Witness. She had leukemia, and I gave her Epogen three times a week.(She passed away in 1997) If it was frowned upon by her Church, she never mentioned it.

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Thanks fab4fan. Got the PM.

WVRN, the last JW took it, but would not take a re-infusion of her orthoinfuser drain. I guess you just have to really question hard.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

In our unit, we have never had a JW decline it for their baby. Most of them see it as a good alternative to having to give the baby blood.

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I will do whatever the patient wants for themselves. I will follow the law of course but I completely understand that faith is individual . I am never going to commit battery(forcing treatments)on a patient as long as they are competent to give consent. I have been seeing many more JW patients lately so my intersest in how to best serve them has been piqued.

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I work on a renal unit with patients who have chronic anemia. Just two week ago we had a JW pt admitted with a H & H of 6.7 & 19.1. He took epo without hesitation even after in depth explanation. He got outrageous doses of epo.....20000 units qod. Other traatment included IV ferrlicit daily and po Fe. On discharge he was 9.2 & 27.6 just tenths below his baseline.

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Thanks fab4fan. Got the PM.

WVRN, the last JW took it, but would not take a re-infusion of her orthoinfuser drain. I guess you just have to really question hard.

Really? I thought that was considered permissible. How about autologous blood donation? I'm pretty sure we've had JWs who did it pre-op.

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Specializes in MS Home Health.

If the blood does not leave the body they can get their own. Once it is out and disconnected so to speak they won't take it back. I have had JW refuse epogen.

My son is a witness.

renerian

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