mother dies after refusing blood transfusion

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Dixiecup

659 Posts

So, I'm curious. What do the JW's think happens to all the rest of us that do accept blood transfusions. If they believe that strongly, I'm sure they believe that the rest of us will not be going to heaven. Do they think we're all condemned or do they think we'll go to heaven because we believe differently.:uhoh21:

cmo421

1 Article; 372 Posts

Specializes in Trauma ICU,ER,ACLS/BLS instructor.

I am in awe at some of the responses on here since that post started. I am thinking we need to adapt the age ole party rule here, never discuss religion or politics at a social function. This is a nurses socialworld at times, so maybe that rule should be here too. When people can not agree to disagree, it is time to stop all together.

There is only one entity that has a right to judge someone ,and that entity will do it in their world. So lets make friends and go on.

Just my two cents! Have a good day all!

Good luck on becoming a RN. I graduate this Spring.

Sad, but it was her right to refuse. My heart breaks for the baby twins, to have to grow up without ever knowing their mother.

GusgirlRN

1 Post

Specializes in Geriatrics.

I just wish I could have a jehova's witness explain to me why they don't accept blood. What is the biblical reference? I think they use the same bible most christians do, don't they? I wish I knew more about JW so I could see it from their point of view. If I understood their point, it would be easier to accept.

allnurses Guide

Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN

11,304 Posts

The best thing is to go to their website and read.

http://www.watchtower.org/e/200608/article_03.htm

Genesis 9:4 "But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it."

There are other passages you can see on the website.

I personally think they misinterpret this - eating is not the same as blood transfusions.

But, as I said, this is America and we have freedom of religion.

It becomes a bit stickier when kids are involved.

steph

missgigius, RN

190 Posts

I just wish I could have a jehova's witness explain to me why they don't accept blood. What is the biblical reference? I think they use the same bible most christians do, don't they? I wish I knew more about JW so I could see it from their point of view. If I understood their point, it would be easier to accept.

JW's would be more than happy to explain our belief about blood to you and explain to them why you want to know. (They will not try to convert you)My suggestion to you would be simply contact the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in you area. Or go to the website: www.watchtower.org (this is the ONLY official website for Jehovah's Witnesses) and look under medical, there is great information there. It is always a good idea to ask JW's why we believe what we believe instead of receiving second-hand information from others. I think it is wonderful for you to have the desire to learn more about why we make this choice to refuse blood.

angel wifey

14 Posts

My boyfriend's grandma is a JW. Back then, her son was in dire need of

BT so eventhough faith was important to her, still, she gladly gave her blood to her son.. I think she just felt that saving her son's life was far worth important than religion. ;)

so there..

WindyhillBSN

383 Posts

Specializes in Telemetry/Cardiac Floor.
I just wish I could have a jehova's witness explain to me why they don't accept blood. What is the biblical reference? I think they use the same bible most christians do, don't they? I wish I knew more about JW so I could see it from their point of view. If I understood their point, it would be easier to accept.

The belief is based on many scriptures, but this one jumps out in my mind....Acts 15:20

"but to write them to abstain from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood."

The scripture says abstain so Jehovah's Witnessess consider having blood put in your veins not to be abstaining. For example... if the physician said abstain from alcohol....putting it in your veins wouldn't be abstaining. This is why Jehovah's Witnesses say no to blood.

txpixiedust

53 Posts

Specializes in Mother-Baby.

[i think she just felt that saving her son's life was far worth important than religion.

so there..]

I'm not a JW (I'm a Christian), but I think that was tacky at best.:nono:

I bet if you asked your boyfriends grandmother, she probably suffers from a lot of guilt over that, and probably feels as if she's sinned. But as a mother, she took that upon herself willingly. And maybe she's just fine with her decision, and if so that's great.

But to say that her son's life was {worth far more} than religion is judgemental. We can't know how she or any other JW's (or any other person of faith) faith is like - we can only imagine based on our life, our faith, etc.

Matthew 10:39 (American Standard Version) , says "He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. " It's not easy to have a strong faith - especially when others don't understand it & you're willing to die because of it.

God Bless,

txpixiedust

WindyhillBSN

383 Posts

Specializes in Telemetry/Cardiac Floor.
yea this all sounds good! let's give her blood so you, the medical staff don't have to feel bad about her dying. Please let us spare you your grief!?!? Get over yourselves....you chose your path when you attended nursing school!:angryfire Our job and mission is caring for the patient and sometimes that is in a dignified death, from their perspective, not yours! No one said it would be easy...Nursing was never presented to you as easy, not before nursing school, not during, and not after!

Mex

Don't pay them any attention. You don't sound bitter.

WindyhillBSN

383 Posts

Specializes in Telemetry/Cardiac Floor.
nope, but i can guarantee i'd bust my ass to save her life so she could see her childs first b-day, and i could goto bed at night without knowing i had to stand by with my hands in my pocket and say "well you know it's her right" yea, well it does'nt change the fact that a woman died and i'm glad i was'nt there.

Many sound as if blood transfusions are the best and only choice for low hct, hgb, platelet count whatever, and that everybody does so good with it, nobody dies from complications of it, and without it you automatically die. I think people feel so strongly about this b/c this is what we were taught in nursing school (not overlooking the new orphans just solely talking about the tx of blood trans.) I say nursing school b/c there are surgeons who have been taught how to do bloodless surgeries worldwide, and not just for JW'S. Who knows 15-20 years from now there maybe so many newly discovered diseases that no one will want it......

Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
Many sound as if blood transfusions are the best and only choice for low hct, hgb, platelet count whatever, and that everybody does so good with it, nobody dies from complications of it, and without it you automatically die. I think people feel so strongly about this b/c this is what we were taught in nursing school (not overlooking the new orphans just solely talking about the tx of blood trans.) I say nursing school b/c there are surgeons who have been taught how to do bloodless surgeries worldwide, and not just for JW'S. Who knows 15-20 years from now there maybe so many newly discovered diseases that no one will want it......

Now this is an interesting and salient point. Why wasn't the blood of this mother recycled, such as using the hemovac system or other recycling system? Autotransfusion is a fairly simple process. Why wasn't the hospital prepared for this when they had a JW mother and hemorrhage is a lifethreatening emergency after delivery?

Maybe the hospital in question needs to look at what they can do to accomodate these patients instead of pointing fingers of blame like this!

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