Ethical Issues And Challenges Of Managing Severe Anaemia In Jehovah Witness Paediatric Patients: 2 Case Reports

Abstract

The Jehovah’s Witnesses are a rapidly growing religious group in the Western world and in Nigeria with an  estimated 7 million members worldwide. Procedures generally regarded as unacceptable by Jehovah’s  witnesses include transfusion of whole blood, packed red cells, white cells, plasma, platelets and preoperative autologous blood collection with storage for later reinfusion. In the event of a refusal when seriously indicated, it creates an ethical dilemma for the health care professional, as well as being a frustrating experience. Central to modern medical ethics is a respect for the patient’s autonomy, while the Physician respects this, he also must abide with the principles of beneficence, non-maleficence and Justice. In the case of minors of Jehovah’s Witnesses requiring blood transfusion, a standard of care procedure should be designed for use in emergency care and elective procedures. Standard steps of procedures must be agreed upon by management as well as the ethics committee of every hospital. This report examines two cases of Jehovah’s Witnesses
minors whose parents refused a much needed blood transfusion for emergency procedures due to religious reasons.

Key words:  Jehovah’s Witnesses; Blood Transfusion; Anaemia.