Jehovah Witness Patients: A Case Study

The Republic of Indonesia is a land full of many different cultures, ethnicities and beliefs. It consists of five large islands, and thousands of smaller islands, of which six thousand are inhabited (“Indonesia”, 2016). Indonesia is a little over nine thousand miles away from the United States, and with all that distance comes some distinct differences in lifestyle, beliefs, and social norms. As a nurse working in the healthcare field, it is our responsibility to be respectful of other people’s beliefs and values and to encourage diversity, even with our patients. Allowing our patients to continue their normal routines as much as possible and to feel comfortable decreases stress, which enables healing. It is hard to be respectful of another’s beliefs without first having an accurate data base of information about said person’s beliefs. This essay outlines detailed information about several different aspects of Indonesian culture including; family patterns, communication, space and time, nutritional patterns, health beliefs and practices, spiritual practices, and biological variations.

In taking care of a patient, it is important for nurses to respect the patient, their beliefs, and their right to autonomy. Provision One in the Code of Ethics states “the nurse practices with compassion and respect for inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every person” (ANA, 2015, p. 7). With a Jehovah’s Witness patient, the nurse must first acquire information regarding their religion and how it may impact their care and their wishes related to their healthcare. Once their patient’s beliefs are noted and understood, the nurse must establish a professional and therapeutic relationship with their patient without bias to their religion and the associated beliefs. The duty to act without bias can be found outlined in Provision 1.2 (ANA, 2015).

The purpose of this paper is to identify the characteristics, values and beliefs of Jehovah’s Witness group. It will discuss their reasoning for refusal to accept blood transfusions. The paper will elaborate on the best approach to offer appropriate care, advice and education while treating patients with respect in regards to their religious beliefs. British Journal of Nursing (2009) suggests that good, honest communication, without any element of coercion or scare tactics, is the key in the management of Jehovah’s Witness patients.

Jehovah's witnesses’ faith allows them to seek medical help; however, they do not accept blood transfusions. This belief arises from a biblical passage that states "Only flesh with its soul- its blood-you must not eat (Genesis 9:3-4), "You must not eat the blood of any sort of flesh, because the soul of every sort of flesh is its blood. I will set my face against that person who eats blood...Anyone eating it will be cut off” (Leviticus 17:10, 13-14). These passages are interpreted by Jehovah's witnesses as forbidding the transfusion of any blood products. The following presentation will address legal and ethical issues that can arise from this scenario.

Healthcare professionals have an ethical obligation to respect patient’s wishes. Consequently, many legal and ethical dilemmas arise in healthcare in response to clinical decisions related to the needs, beliefs, and preferences of patients and families. Other dilemmas result over concerns about the integrity, competence, or actions of other healthcare professionals. Preserving human dignity, relieving suffering, equality, integrity, and accountability are essential nursing values (Kangasniemi, Pakkanen, & Korhonen, 2015). Nurse leaders have an

Allowing someone to die: Some religious affiliations (Jehovah’s witness) will not receive a blood transfusion. They have decided not to take advantage of medical technology to preserve life. If such person is in a life & death situation and required a blood transfusion in order to survive the choose to die vs. receiving a blood transfusion.

For many people Christianity is the religion of choice and a way of life. Jehovah?s Witnesses are one subgroup of the Christian faith. The JW religion was founded in 1872 by Charles Taze Russell. They comprise 1.2 million of the U.S. population (Campbell, Y., Machan M., & Fisher, M., 2016). They present a unique challenge to the medical community because of their stance on blood transfusions. Part I will provide a

Another sociological concept for Jehovah Witnesses is norms. Some norms for Jehovah Witnesses are no sex before marriage, no gambling, very little drinking, no abortion, and no war. Sex before marriage is a major sin in all religions, but Jehovah Witnesses see it as something that should not even be thought of before marriage in any form (religionfacts.com, n.d.). Gambling is a form of greed, and should not be done. A little drinking is allowed for the Jehovah Witnesses but if they end up drunk, it is considered a sin (religionfacts.com, n.d.). Jehovah Witnesses condemn people that abort their children (religionfacts.com, n.d.). Jehovah Witnesses also refuse to participate in wars because they are not in the Battle of Armageddon (religionfacts.com, n.d.). Most things that almost all Americans do nowadays are banned from the Jehovah Witness religion like drink, sex before marriage, and gamble.

Julian Savulescu and Richard W. Momeyer, wrote an article expressing their theories on informed consent being based on rational beliefs. The article constructed around Jehovah Witnesses rejecting blood transfusions, and how it is theoretically irrational. Both pressed the reasoning of irrationality due to fear being based on an interpretation inconsistent with all passages of the Bible and Christian practices. Thus leading to the concussion Jehovah Witnesses are uninformed of the conflicting Biblical passages, and not fully autonomous in their decision making. Suggesting when patients act on their autonomy while regarding medical care, it must derive from rational beliefs or it will be false autonomy.

Intercessory prayer should not be supported in the field of medicine because religion should be independent from a medical practitioner’s field of work. Praying is defined as the religious act towards worshiping a deity and medicine is defined as the act of healing others. The fundamental definitions for both of these terms are completely opposite, which is the reason for great discrepancy between the two methods. Although, many argue that intercessory prayer may lead to healing, combining religion and medicine just results into several controversial issues. Another glaring

쀀쀀e in become more evolved as a nation one of the problem that needs to be address is how to response to diverse faith within our healthcare practices. This essay serves to compare these three different religious philosophies: Yoruba, Hinduism (karma) and Buddhism, to a Christian’s perspective. These religions have wide perspectives but one will key in on health management and what to expect from healthcare point of view while caring for these patients. Yoruba religion is based on nature worshipping and is rooted deeply on respect for the environment. Their divinities is called Òrìsà, when it work is complete they become thunderstorm with lightning. Then the formation of the river adjoining into the ocean all of these actions are classified as divinities (Abimbola 2010). All living things are considered sacred and need to be reverenced. Religion cannot be free from the influence of the culture of the people where it is established, Gaiya substantiating this view wrote that culture and religion are two sides of the same coin and that a change in one affects the other (Awoniyi 2011).One will hear words such as Ori which is the soul or the unconscious mind, Èmí-the divine breathe enclosed in our heart and Òlódùmare, our High God.. (Awoniyi 2011).

Different religious groups have different believe system in the provision of the healthcare. The health personnel such as doctors and nurses should be aware of the religious beliefs of their patients for effectively delivering medical care. In provision of medical care, religious faith and beliefs of the patient is incorporated with the scientific medical care in offering a holistic medical to the patients. The medical personnel should take into the consideration the religious belief of the patient in the course of offering medical care to the patient. The

In regards to religious beliefs in multiple cultures, it is to be understood that the commands of God portray goodness regardless if the command is ethically wrong or right. God’s commands shall be portrayed as morally right by those who believe in Him. The theory of knowing that God exists is more preferred than disbelief. This leads to believing in a higher power which motivates people to have faith in all commands from Him. Due to DTC, all God’s commands would be morally correct; therefore the actions that individuals express would be morally right as well. Furthermore, due to individuals obeying all commands, since He is a benefactor, He would show guidance through hope during certain circumstances. The Jehovah Witness religion demonstrates

One of the most misunderstood religions in America seems to be the Jehovah's Witnesses. Because they go door-to-door to evangelicize, many people think of them as an intrusive religious group, and some people even relegate them to the status of a cult. I must admit that my thoughts about Jehovah's Witnesses ran in that direction, as well, prior to embarking upon this assignment. While those Witnesses that I had encountered seemed very friendly and helpful, in many ways that came across as fake or feigned, and I did wonder if it was genuine. Therefore, when this opportunity presented itself, attending a Jehovah's Witness service seemed like the opportunity to explore.

"You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood" (Lev. 17:14). This is just one of the several scriptures found in the bible from which the Jehovah Witnesses base their beliefs. To summarize the above excerpt, Jehovah Witnesses strongly believe that contributing to the health of their bodies by way of any type of blood material is not intended by God’s will. However in dire cases, ethical questions need to be raised regarding the patient’s mental capacity and legal competence. In particular cases concerning minor patients, where mental capacity is accounted for, parents should not have the dominant opinion about how their child wants to receive surgery based on their own personal beliefs.