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| No. 20 | 
Oct 23, 2005, 10:51 PM
 Re: Caring for Jehovah's witnesses
It has been my experience with Jehovah Witnesses that they are firm in their belief not to take blood. Many cannot quote the biblical scripture for you but nevertheless they will not take blood.
I have only seen one patient in 41 years of nursing that accepted blood. He was told that he would die without the blood. He then stated that it was his wife's religion.
I took care of a mother of two teenage boys who presented with a Mallory-Weise tear. Her hemoglobin dropped to 3 and she would not take blood.
she did survive but I do not know how long it took her to recover.
I don't understand their belief but I do respect it.   | | Advertisement Sponsored Links | | | | No. 21 |
Apr 05, 2006, 08:33 AM
 Re: I am an RN/Jehovah's Witness Originally Posted by MegRN84 As a Jehovah's Witness as well as a RN, I am sure I could be of help to you in
your research.
First of all, you may not be aware that JW's have the conscience choice to take blood fractions. They also may consent to hemodilution. I have many different articles published by the Soceity of Jehovah's Witnesses on why Jehovah's Witnesses do not accept blood and what they will and won't accept.
The Society has also an information website that you can obtain information on our stand and medical videos that explain alternatives to blood transfusions, interviews from non-Jehovah's Witness medical professionals and examples of their cases who have accepted medical alternatives. www.watchtower.org
You can get in contact with the Society through the number they have provided for medical professionals on their website which is:
Hospital Information Services at 718-560-4300.
They will supply you with any information over the phone or by mail that you may need.
example: Videos, brochures, etc..
It is not my intention to push our belief system on you, but only to provide an accurate understanding of Jehovah's Witnesses non-blood stand.
I hope this provides you with everything you need.
If you would like to discuss this issue with me further or get my feedback I will check the message board.
I am so late in responding to this but wanted to say hi and what a wonderful post this is, also hi to the other JW nurses on here, I was thrilled to see a few of you, I am doing my last semester of pre reqs for the nursing program and I have not yet met any other Jw nurses. Would love here some of your experiences.
| | No. 22 |
Apr 05, 2006, 09:28 AM
Re: Caring for Jehovah's witnesses
we use the video from the Watchtower website to educate nurses on cultural diversity issues and alternates to blood transfusions.
One issue is that parents may oppose a blood transfusion for a child who needs it and that can have ethical as well as legal complications. You need to know what your state law says in this regard.
| | No. 23 |
Apr 05, 2006, 09:46 AM
Re: Caring for Jehovah's witnesses Originally Posted by BittyBabyGrower In the neonatal population we do run across this sometimes, and it is hard. We do everything we can not to use blood products with these kids, but sometimes to save the baby we have too. Sometimes the parents will consent, but sometimes we have to obtain a court order. In a 24 weeker, you can not usually get away with never ever giving blood, and if two attendings agree that it is absolutely necessary they speak to the parents, then if they have to they do inform them that they have to obtain a court order because if the baby doesn't get blood it will die. The emotional aspect for these parents is high. We start these kids on Epogen as soon as we can to try to lessen the risk of needing a blood transfusion.
Excuse me, a 24-weeker? Shouldn't it be the parents choice if they want any life-sustaining measures at all provided to a preemie that small?
| | No. 24 |
Apr 05, 2006, 02:51 PM
Re: Caring for Jehovah's witnesses
To say that a patient died for their religious refusal to accept a blood transfusion is unfair. You yourself said that the patient had an underlying
cancer diagnosis. Was it not then the cancer, rather than the refusal that led to this patient's death?
Everyday patients with numerous diagnoses receive blood transfusions. In my career as a nurse there were many patients we (the staff) all knew were close to death that were receiving blood transfusions. And they died.
And our hearts broke and we carried on, as we always do.
As nurses, we always encourage pt's to hope. Hope is one of the most successful keys to a cure we possess. Our jobs even provide hope.
That Jehovah's Witness died still believing in his hope. He would eventually died, because we all do. But because you did not force him to accept blood, he died with his hope intact.
You most certainly want to do the same for anyone who was sick and dying in your care.
But please do not blame this man's death on his refusal to accept blood. But the true culprit, the cancer.
| | No. 25 |
Apr 09, 2006, 09:02 PM
Re: Caring for Jehovah's witnesses
Yes, ChayNa, 24 weekers do survive and if the baby has had no problems such as a bleed in the brain, overwhelming infection, etc, then sometimes they need blood to replace what we have taken in labs and the normal breakdown of red blood cells. It isn't that easy to withdraw support on kids, especially if they aren't on their last leg. Without the RBC's, they usually require higher vent settings, don't tolerate feeds, have multiple A and B's and all this can lead to things that can kill this infant, such as NEC, PVL, IVH and BPD. In the many years I have worked in NICU, we have only had to get a court order a handful of times, most of the time the parents do consent.
Now, in a 22 or 23 weeker, it's a different scenario as those kids usually are bad to start.
| | No. 26 |
Apr 09, 2006, 09:34 PM
Re: Caring for Jehovah's witnesses
My family is not JW, but my mother has never believed in blood transfusions or organ donations. She believes that her body is the temple that God gave her for her soul, and she will not change anything- giving or receiving.
She refused blood during her first 2 labors, which were difficult breach deliveries that had to be manually turned becaused since she wouldn't take blood, her docs wouldn't do c-secs. Both she and my brother and sister turned out ok.
My mother never really made a big deal about it. Interestingly, a couple of years ago, I ended up in the ED after hemorraghing and I found that I did not want to accept blood products, yet I administer blood products and never really think anything of it.
| | No. 27 |
Apr 09, 2006, 10:35 PM
Re: Caring for Jehovah's witnesses Originally Posted by barefootlady Quite a large population of Witness here, have had problems with obtaining surgical consents, ALWAYS have physician and head nurse present these forms and do education on these forms. Physician needs to address need for blood or blood products with patient and family more than one time prior to any procedure, advance directives need to be current, and the patient and the family needs to understand that with modern standards of care, it may lead to a legal battle if blood or blood products are needed to sustain life in the absence of any other major health problem. Several Witness patients chose to autodonate 2 units prior to surgery, especially orthopedic procedures, when given the opportunity. Have had one patient who died because he refused blood, had underlying cancer diagnosis, and family swore in court he would not agree to transfusions. Hope this helps. 
i find it interesting that you've had witnesses autodonate prior to ortho procedures. my understanding was that once the blood comes out of contact with the body it's no longer acceptable, whether it's their blood or not.
| | No. 28 |
Apr 10, 2006, 12:46 AM
Re: Caring for Jehovah's witnesses Originally Posted by goats'r'us i find it interesting that you've had witnesses autodonate prior to ortho procedures. my understanding was that once the blood comes out of contact with the body it's no longer acceptable, whether it's their blood or not.
this is true. I think though that there are a lot of folks who were raised as Jehovah's witnesses and may not be real active in the religion now, but still would consider themselves JW when asked, and may be more likely to accept the blood in a pinch. Also there are some who are studying and associating with the witnesses, but are not yet a JW and are not entirely sure of what is "allowable". In any case, it is wonderful to see so many here that are appreciative of the rights and beliefs of patients and will work in a non judgemental manner with them. As a JW myself It makes all the difference in the world.
| | No. 29 |
Apr 14, 2006, 07:26 AM
Re: Caring for Jehovah's witnesses
After reading this thread, doing a little bit of research and then observing two CABG surgeries using the bypass machine, I wondered about JWs and consent. Do you think JW patients (or, for those of you who are JW, would you) consent to a procedure that involved a bypass machine?
I am aware that some believe that an autologous transfusion is acceptable, whereas others believe that as soon as the blood leaves the body, it is impure.
I was quite curious about this and I figured this would be the best place to get some good answers.
Thanks!
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