Jehovah's Witnesses and autonomy: honouring the refusal of blood transfusions

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Patient YZ, a mature minor, was brought to the hospital for appendectomy. Although the risk of clinically relevant blood loss is low, there is risk, but patients, Jehovah's Witnesses will reject any blood transfusions that may be needed during treatment. The patient was alert, awake, and very determined to refuse blood donation. The attending physician agreed with the patient's request that the patient performed surgery without transfusion therapy, but the anesthesiologist was reluctant to perform anesthesia under these conditions. After asking the hospital 's risk manager about how to proceed, the surgeon contacted the anesthesiologist and found an anesthesiologist who is willing to care about the patient' s desire. If the patient needs blood during the procedure, the surgeon can not succeed in having the parties agree on what to do. With a positive result without doubt, no blood transfusion is necessary after the operation is complete.

Ricarda Bradford was seriously injured in a car accident. She urgently needs a blood transfusion. The witnesses believed that the Bible prohibited blood transfusion, so her father, a godly Jehovah's Witness, refused permission. As a result, Ricardo died on her 6th birthday. (Pharma 1) Their goal is to live a good life; as they die, they will be placed on a new earth or heaven. The earth will never be destroyed. As a witness believes, one day it will be a paradise. They believe that only 144,000 people will go to heaven, and believe that other people believed to be good by God will lead a peaceful life on Earth. The goal of their life is to be a kind and sincere person, following the law of the Bible.

Let's consider the last possibility. There is anecdotal evidence that at least some Jehovah's Witnesses make decisions in the face of life threatening situations. According to the teachings of their religion, they rejected the recommended blood transfusion strictly. They insisted refusal in front of families and church elders. But when they choose to talk with a doctor alone, they relax and receive blood. Alternatively, when hospital authorities seek judicial intervention, Jehovah's Witnesses may say that the standard opposition is "... contrary to my will", but actually accepted blood transfusion. This possibility indicates that it is difficult to judge whether the wish expressed by the patient is truly autonomous. People usually tell you what they mean and they mean what they say, but legal exceptions may occur.