JEHOVAH'S WITNESS

Legal Ethical And Moral Issues with Jehovah's Witness



Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION3

HARM AND BENEFICENCE3

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES3

HARM5

CONSENT6

INFORMED CONSENT6

ADVANCE DIRECTIVE7

AUTONOMY OF PATIENT8

AUTONOMY OF HEALTH PROFESSIONAL10

DOPS DUTY OF CARE12

ETICAL AND MORAL ISSUES OF THE CASE13

CONCLUSION15

REFERNCES17

Legal Ethical And Moral Issues with Jehovah's Witness

Introduction

The refusal of a lifesaving blood transfusion by a competent adult Jehovah's Witness, which could have resulted in the death of a patient, is an example of a true ethical dilemma. If Jehovah's Witness patients are forced to accept a blood transfusion that is contrary to their beliefs, their autonomy as patients is clearly violated.

Harm and beneficence

If patients die as a result of refusing this therapy, there is a sense that “harm” has been done and that a medical “benefit,” commonly available to others, was not available for these patients.

This report examines a scenario where an accident victim was brought in and due to his injuries was taken to surgery. Before the surgery he was able to tell that he belonged to the Jehovah's Witness. During his surgery he was given blood to save his life. He recovered and later filed a case. This report analyses the legal ethical and moral issues involved.

Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses are a Christian faith that had its modern beginnings in the 1870s in Pittsburgh, PA. In 2002, there were more than 6 million active Witnesses worldwide (approximately 1 million in the United States and 110,000 in Canada) and more than 9 million other persons associated with them. Among them are hundreds of health care professionals, including physicians and surgeons. Witnesses believe that the entire Bible was written under inspiration from God and is beneficial in every aspect of life(Wade  2004 pp. 254-257) . Depending on the context, they believe some Biblical texts are to be understood literally and others symbolically, and in this sense they are not fundamentalists. Passages from both the Old and New Testaments are used for comfort when confronting illness and for guidance when making health care decisions. They endeavor to resolve ethical and moral questions as well as bioethical issues in the light of Biblical principles and precedents in order to preserve their relationship with God(Shibamoto Kondo Amano 2006 pp. 811-815). Although they place a high value on prayer, faith, and Bible reading, they know these are not substitutes for medical treatment. On the contrary, Jehovah's Witnesses avail themselves of medical and surgical care and accept most treatments and procedures. Jehovah's Witnesses also believe they must show respect for the sanctity of life. They value good health and act responsibly in safeguarding their own and their children's well-being. Witnesses regard participation in extreme sports and the taking of unnecessary risks that could endanger human life as inappropriate activities. By trying to live healthy lifestyles, maintaining personal and household hygiene, observing safety precautions (eg, automobile seat belts, speed limits), refraining from tobacco, abuse of alcohol or drugs, and adherence to strict sexual mores, they tend to be healthier and recover more quickly from illness. In the health care setting, a positive outlook along with social and spiritual support from their community also contribute to well-being and recovery.

 

Harm

Although the risks associated with allogeneic blood are well established, the Witnesses' primary reason for declining blood transfusion is religious. Witnesses believe that blood transfusion is prohibited by Biblical passages such as ...