Blood and surgery? Last night, on Discovery Health Channel, I watched a program where a woman was admitted to the ER, and she was a Jehovas Witness. Something had happened to where she was bleeding in the brain. Her husband was there, and he said he would let the surgeons do whatever they needed to do, as long as it was in keeping with their beliefs, and didn't infringe on their faith. I was only able to catch the ending of the show, and he'd mentioned something about blood, but didn't go into anymore detail. So, i'm not sure if it had to do with blood transfusions or not. The surgeon said they did the most they could do for her, and couldn't do anymore than that, without undermining the couples beliefs. She eventually ended up dying. What are their beliefs about surgery and blood?
2007-02-19 02:47:05 · 6 answers · asked by LibraT 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in blood transfusions or surgery, because it is against (apparently) the will of God - you are tampering with one of his creations (yourself) and you have absolutely no right to do that!
2007-02-19 02:49:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I don't understand how people who have absolutely no clue as to what JW's believe insist on answering questions about them with some of the most ignorant answers. The truth is, Jehovah's Witnesses refuse only 1 (ONE) medical procedure --- blood transfusions, which includes whole blood and the 4 major components (white, red, platelets, plasma). JW's can accept all other forms of surgery and medical care, for example:
cell salvage
hemodilution
heart-lung machine
dialysis
epidural blood patch
plasmapheresis
tagging
platelet gel
autologous
albumin
immunoglobulin
hemoglobin
hemin
interferons
Fact is, JW's take the most heat for this because it is a scriptural / religious belief and people really have nothing else to point to, yet we account for only about 10% of the refused blood transfusions in the U.S. --- why don't they get slack for it. Also, people refuse medical treatment all the time, some cancer patients refuse chemo for radiation or vice versa. Jehovah's Witnesses have played an important part in the medical field of bloodless surgery, and more and more doctors and hospitals are moving in that direction, especially with the onset of diseases carried by blood.
It is true, some do die in their refusal, many, if not most, live. But people die accepting blood transfusions as well, as much as people like to try and make the end all to be all, it's no guarantee, just like any other medical procedure.
2007-02-19 03:13:37 · answer #2 · answered by OatesATM 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The best thing about Jehova's Witnesses, is that they most of the time have no clue of what they believe and why. Many times their beliefs change with time because the watchtower asociation flip flops. Even with this cited, someone will still claim that we're just ignorant.
Watchtower 9/15/1961, pages 564:
"The blood in any person is in reality the person himself. It contains all the peculiarities of the individual from whence it comes. This includes hereditary taints, disease susceptibilities, poisons due to personal living, eating and drinking habits. . . . The poisons that produce the impulse to commit suicide, murder, or steal are in the blood............
page 565
......any treatment that does not conflict with the law of God, and the fact is that other treatments are available. Doctors who recognize man as a creation of God, instead of a product of evolution, are usually more inclined to realize that the human body has been endowed by God with marvelous recuperative powers, and they co-operate with these instead of feeling that the prohibition on the use of blood is a barrier to recovery. Our own bodies are marvelously equipped to meet emergencies, even those occasioned by blood loss. (Ps. 139:14)
2007-02-19 06:21:37 · answer #3 · answered by Max Powers 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Both the above answers are wrong.
Last year we were hit by an 18 wheeler and both my wife and I have had surgery to correct damages.
Your previous answers apparently had little or no research.
Help could have been had, if the proper authorities had been contacted. Blood substitutes are available, but in our cases, were not in stock at our hospital. Turned out they were not needed.
Below is a link to our website where all your answers can be found......Just go to the index and look for which ever subject interests you, or if you wish, call your local Kingdom Hall any morning and they will talk with you.
2007-02-19 03:08:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
They don't allow blood transfusions. But then again, in the early days they didn't believe in vaccines either, so who knows what they will believe next?
2007-02-19 03:03:50 · answer #5 · answered by Tanya Pants 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Actually they believe that blood transfusions are a sin. Early watchtower nutcases said that the poisons that produce the impulse to commit suicide, murder, or steal are in the blood.
2007-02-19 02:55:41 · answer #6 · answered by 87GN 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋