Jehovah’s Witnesses likely to accept transfusions ‘confidentially’

Written by Lloyd Mudiwa

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Jehovah’s Witnesses are now more likely to request blood transfusions as a matter of “confidentiality”, a leading consultant haematologist has said.

IBTS National Haemovigilance Office Director Dr Emer Lawlor told IMN: “Things have changed for Jehovah’s Witnesses. Previously if they accepted blood, they were defellowshipped and this had the consequences of being shunned. Since 2000, members have to dissociate themselves, but if a member wanted a transfusion it could be a matter of confidentiality.

“I am not suggesting that members do this, but I am merely stating that when things are in flux, people are less likely to stringently adhere to convention.”

She elaborated: “There is a faction [of the Church] which is disputing the need for a ban against transfusion, so in a situation where there are two views it’s possible that it’s happening more than previously.”

She reiterated the doctor’s role to advocate on their patients behalf despite inconveniences or costs associated with not transfusing, but stressed the need to inform patients of the facts, even where a patient has a valid advance directive.

She urged hospitals to establish policies to deal with patients declining transfusions.

Describing transfusion as a multi-disciplinary issue, she said hospitals should provide contacts of people who could provide legal advice in such events as well as doctors prepared to treat such patients.

Hospitals should also contact the transfusion services as they have haemovigilance officers, who would have experience with these issues, Dr Lawlor said.

“Even patients who agree to blood transfusions should not be transfused unless it is absolutely necessary.

“It’s not a question of transfusion or nothing, but there are other things. In certain circumstances, however, blood is the only thing that does the business,” she said, citing obstetrics as the biggest risk.

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