Why I Am Working At A Medical Facility

Blood transfusion is a practice that breaks rules of their religion. As an adult they are allowed to refuse transfusions, even though it is said that approximately 1,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses die every year from their denial of blood transfusions (Wilson, 2005). When it comes to children in the United Kingdom, however, the doctor is allowed to do a blood transfusion, if needed, against the parent’s wishes. The protection that is behind this is the Children Act of 1989. This act states that although the parent’s rights are considered, it is ultimately the well being of the child that is the priority (Wilson, 2005). Acts like this are reassuring to see, and are a big improvement that will continue to help save the lives of

Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe in blood transfusions as blood is sacred to Jehovah as it represents life force. Blood must not be eaten or transfused even in an emergency, blood must be poured on to the ground rather than be used for a medical reason.

If a Jehovah witness comes into the hospital in need of a blood transfusion the doctors and nurses must respect the patient’s wishes not to have a blood transfusion.

I have chosen my profession to be a healthcare administration and I chose to do my studies online. Since I have my degree in the medical side of my profession, I want to learn the

"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.

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

Notably, Jehovah Witness patients’ religious teachings prohibit their believers from Blood transfusion, euthanasia, autopsy and Artificial insemination. These medical practices are against the Biblical teachings of the Jehovah Witness since they consider them to be unholy. Further, they believe the medical interventions to interfere with God’s intentions for human life hence they disallow their followers from practicing

During the last week I have had the pleasure of interviewing several individuals about their beliefs and how those beliefs affect how they would anticipate their own needs in a healthcare setting. I found that I also learned a lot about each individual’s faith, how their faiths affected their daily lives and their worldviews. I conducted four interviews in the last week and I believe that I have captured a diverse cross section of view on faith and reality from these individuals.

Since the patient was a Jehovah Witness she refused any treatments involving a blood transfusion because she felt that if she accepted the blood transfusion she would be going against her family and religious beliefs. Her husband who was also at her bedside agreed with his wife 's decision. Eventually her husband left to pick up their children from daycare. Her condition worsened and she decided to change her mind because she realized that she was really going to die if she did not have the transfusion and wanted to be around for her children. She then asked the nurse if she could still receive the blood without informing her husband of her decision. The nurse was so relieved with the patient’s decision and informed the healthcare provider. Because of this decision the patient and unborn child were able to make a full recovery.

I studied politics with the intention of joining the Royal Marines; however, shortly after graduating I was diagnosed with colitis which prevented me from joining the military. This was a turning point in my life and became the catalyst for me to begin pursuing a career in medicine.

Leviticus 17:12-14 "...No soul of you shall eat blood...whosoever eateth it shall be cut off"

Society has taught that they are to abstain from blood transfusions since this was considered to be “eating blood”

A lot of people are unfamiliar with Jehovah’s Witnesses (J.W.) population and their religious believes. As stated in the Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, J.W., Christian sect, founded in 1872 in Pittsburgh, Pa., by the American clergyman Charles Taze Russell, with congregations throughout the world. The legal governing body of J. W. is the Watch Tower Bible (Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, 2014). After researching the values and beliefs of J.W. and comparing them to Christianity, Professor Watson found quite a few differences (Walston, R., 2004). One of the major differentiating characteristics of J. W. is their refusal to accept blood transfusions because it is considered to be a sin. Members of this sect refuse blood mainly based on the Book of Acts that says to abstain from blood. They see blood as

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.