Jehovah's Witnesses

Of all the religions, Jehovah's Witnesses can be particularly annoying due to their frequent visits to homeowners' doorsteps. In the healthcare field, Jehovah's Witnesses can be problematic, because they refuse blood transfusions -- and it sometimes comes down to receive it or die?

In the article linked below, I would say the tone of the article is a bit misleading. There has always been a drive towards using less blood in surgeries. It is not Jehovah's witnesses driving this, but the shortage of blood, and the complications that come with blood incompatabilities. Maybe the Chronicle is giving Jehovah's witnesses a bit more good press, since they're here in droves for a series of conventions in the Cow Palace. Stanford, and most hospitals, try to honor and find ways to work with, rather than against various religious and cultural belief structures.

At any rate, Jehovah's Witnesses are not the driving factor in reducing blood transfusions, but recalcitrant guinea pigs, since they are willing to die if the only thing between them and death is a blood transfusion. This means what could be a routine surgery becomes a harrowing gauntlet for medical staff -- first, will we actually need blood? (in some surgeries, it's nearly unavoidable); second, how close to death will the patient actually come without blood? (too close means it's too late); and third, will the patient or their family relent in their belief to allow transfusion to avert death at the last minute? (many do).

From the San Francisco Chronicle (announcement by way of American Association of Blood Banks newsletter):

Jehovah's Witness' religious beliefs have encouraged advances in "bloodless" surgeries and spawned a new push for bloodless medical programs at hospitals including Stanford University Medical Center, where transfusion experts note that the reliance on public blood supplies could be threatened during an epidemic or terrorist attack. San Francisco Chronicle (7/20)

The bigger picture here, though is that it is a hypocritical fad to say that we honor deeply held religious beliefs... that is, unless you happen to be a member of Al Qaeda ? We DO draw lines because we believe that some religions are just plain wrong. Of course, those are always "destructive beliefs of the enemy," never our own destructive beliefs.