1. Jehovah’s Witness: Blood Transfusions
By: GLT

2. Who are they?
A Christian denomination with unique interpretations of a number of biblical passages
A group of people that revere the bible (the New World Translation) as their holy scripture
People that have experienced God’s actions in their own lives and want to tell others about their experience

3. What does It mean?
Jehovah – God’s personal name in ancient Hebrew which refers to the almighty God and creator of the universe
Witness – a person who can report about something based on his or her own experience

4. History
Charles Taze Russell was the founder
He grew up as a Presbyterian but later joined the Congregationalist Church
Formed his own Bible study group because he wasn’t satisfied with any of the Christian churches
In 1881, him and his followers formed the Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society, which was later named, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society

5. In 1931, the group took the name Jehovah’s Witness
History continued
In 1888, the Watch Tower Society had 50 full-time employees going door-to-door with pamphlets to convert people
In 1916, Russell died, and Joseph Rutherford was elected the leader of the Watch Tower group
In 1931, the group took the name Jehovah’s Witness

6. Family Life: do not date unless they are considering marriage
Beliefs
Family Life: do not date unless they are considering marriage
Citizenship: refuse to swear allegiance to any nation, sing national anthem of the country they live in or salute the flag
Health: against God’s law to ingest, or eat blood, even if blood is taken into one’s body through the veins

7. Not allowed to receive blood even at the cost of their lives
Religion
Strict prohibition against whole blood transfusion (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets or plasma)
Not allowed to receive blood even at the cost of their lives
Allowed to seek other treatment options such as Haemaccel, Ringers Lactate, Dextran, etc

8. Biblical Passages
“Only flesh with its soul-its blood-you must not eat” (Genesis 9:3-4 from New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures)
“Abstain from....fornication and from what is strangled and from blood” (Acts 15:19-21 American Standard Version)
“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 1 17:10, from New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures)

9. Biblical Passages Continued
“The one thing you must not eat is meat with blood still in it; I forbid this because the life is in the blood” (Genesis 9:4 from Good News Translation Catholic Edition)
“You are to abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.” (Acts 15:28-29 from New International Version)

10. What is a Blood Transfusion?
Transfer of blood or any of its parts from one person to another
Depending on the problem being treated, red blood cells, plasma, and clotting factors may be parts of blood that are given to patients

11. When are blood transfusions needed?
You may need a blood transfusion when:
You are seriously injured
You are having surgery
You have a blood disorder
Your life is threatened by blood loss or blood destruction by illness
You are not making enough blood

12. Red blood cells are used to carry oxygen
What does blood do?
Blood circulates through the body and brings oxygen and nutrients to every cell
Red blood cells are used to carry oxygen
White blood cells are used to attack germs
Platelets are used to form clots and stop wounds from bleeding
Plasma provides transportation for the blood cells

13. Why don’t they accept blood?
If they receive blood, life may be meaningless and lack spiritual purpose
Might damage their relationship with god
Against their religion to receive blood under any circumstances and it is a sin
They believe that blood removed from the body should be disposed
They will be expelled from the congregation

14. You will have to update this card if you move, or change your name
“No blood cards”
They carry “no blood cards” that state their refusal to accept a blood transfusion under any circumstances
This card will identify who you are and your decision to receive blood if you are unable to speak or you’re unconscious
You will have to update this card if you move, or change your name

15. If they do wish to receive blood there might be consequences
Personal choice
It is a personal choice if the patient wants to receive partial blood or not
If they do wish to receive blood there might be consequences
If the patient wants to live, they might change their mind about the blood transfusion
It is an individual’s choice as to whether they still want to follow the bible and obey Gods direction when their life is in danger

16. Article
"I don't want to die, which is why I went to the hospital for treatment. I just wanted the best medical treatment without blood …“
Under Manitoba law, people under the age of 16 can be given medical treatment against their will.
The Supreme Court awarded her costs so she doesn't have to pay for the pricey legal action

17. Article Continued
"There almost are no words to say just how brutal of an act [blood transfusion] is. I once compared it to almost being raped. There are no options for you, there's nothing you can do about it and it's very hard to deal with."

18. Forced medical treatment?
Physicians + World’s Perspective:
This is viewed as forced medical treatment because in some places the law states that kids under the age of 16 can be given medical treatment against their will
When patients are unconscious and the physicians have no information they will proceed with the medical treatment because if the treatment exists the physicians are motivated to provide the treatment

19. Forced medical treatment?
Jehovah’s Witnesses Perspective:
It would be considered forced medical treatment for the girl in the article
In general, if the patient decided not to have the blood transfusion it would not be considered forced medical treatment because they chose to follow the bible and obey Gods direction
It is their personal choice as to whether or not they want to have a blood transfusion when their life is in danger

20. controversial
Some people don’t think it is right for them to refuse blood when their life is in danger
Most parents won’t allow their child to receive blood, which may seem like they are killing their child
Some people believe that JW’s force their children to not accept blood because they are not old enough to make their own decisions

21. Future outlook
Medical researchers are continuing to test and develop non-blood oxygen-transport products
Find ways to support the children’s best interest by enhancing parental comfort
Nurse ethicists must continue to help reduce suffering on the part of the providers by educating their staff about providing the right care that is best for the patient
More and more physicians are learning to accept the situation as a medical challenge

22. conclusion
JW’s are not allowed to have blood transfusion, but in emergency situations it is their choice
There is a lot of controversy over this topic because people find that what JW’s are doing is wrong
Depending on what the situation is and who you are you might or might not consider it forced medical treatment

23. References
Ehman, C. J. (2007, April 20). Religious Diversity: Practical Points for Health Care Providers. In Penn Medicine. Retrieved April 28, 2012, from Jehovah's Witnesses -- Who Are They? What Do They Believe? (2000). In watchtower. Retrieved April 28, 2012, from Davis, D. S. (n.d.). Does `no' mean `yes'? The continuing problem of Jehovah's Witnesses and refusal of blood products. In EBSCOhost. Retrieved April 28, 2012, from MasterFILE Elite. Blood transfusion. (2009, July 22). In Health & Welliness Resource Center. Retrieved April 28, 2012, from GALE CENGAGE Learning. Juettner, M. (2006). What Makes Me A Jehovah's Witness? (pp. 4-22). N.p.: Thompson Gale. Caitlin, A. (1996). The Dilemma of Jehovah's Witness Children Who Need Blood to Survive. In Sonoma. Retrieved April 28, 2012, from 0to%20Survive.pdf Muramoto, O. (2001, January 6). Bioehtical aspects of the recent changes in policy of refusal of blood by Jehovah's Witnesses. Retrieved April 28, 2012, from %20Recent%20Changes.pdf

24. References
Jehovah's Witnesses and Blood Transfusions (2007, August). In Office of the Public Advocate. Retrieved April 28, 2012, from ansfusions_09.pdf
Blood (n.d.). In The Franklin Institute. Retrieved April 28, 2012, from
"Girl's forced blood transfusion didn't violate rights: top court." CBC. N.p., 26 June Web. 5 May

25. Picture References History :
Charles Taze Russell -
Joseph Franklin Rutherford -
What is a Blood Transfusion?:
Blood Transfusion -
When are Blood Transfusions Needed?:
Injection -
What Does Blood Do?:
Blood Cells – +Erythrocytes,+Leukocytes,+Platelets,+%26+Plasma
“No Blood Cards”:
Card -