The view of Jehovah's Witnesses on blood substitutes

Abstract

With the exception of blood transfusions, Jehovah's Witnesses accept the full range of medical treatments. We are very much interested therefore in the development of blood substitutes. We greatly appreciate the efforts being made throughout the world by researchers and doctors in this regard and hope through this conference to learn more about these studies. We are also pleased to have this opportunity to present the view of Jehovah's Witnesses on blood substitutes. At present, the number of Jehovah's Witnesses and their associates in Japan is about 380,000. There are more than 2,000,000 in the United States, and about 13,000,000 in the world, increasing at the rate of about 4.4 percent per year. Under the direction of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society whose headquarters are in New York City, a department called 'Hospital Information Services' is set up in each of 104 branches around the world. This department gives oversight to the Hospital Liaison Committees of Jehovah's Witnesses in the principal cities of more than 230 countries. The Hospital Liaison Committees engage in various activities designed to promote cooperation between Witness patients and medical professionals. They explain to medical and legal professionals for example, the views of Jehovah's Witnesses on medicine and medical treatment and seek to clarify misconceptions. They also provide useful medical and legal information helpful in dealing with Witness' cases. On this occasion, we would like to explain the view of Jehovah's Witnesses on blood and blood substitutes, as well as show how informed consent is related to treatment by blood substitutes.