Perioperative Jehovah's Witnesses: a review.

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Hematology
• Medical Ethics

Background:

• Jehovah's Witnesses, a well-known group, refuse blood products.
• This refusal poses significant challenges for medical, anesthetic, and surgical teams.
• Managing anemia and bleeding in these patients requires specialized approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review perioperative issues and management strategies for Jehovah's Witnesses.
• To outline the history and beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses and their ethical/legal implications.
• To discuss various management options during the perioperative period.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of perioperative management for Jehovah's Witnesses.
• Examination of ethical and legal considerations.
• Discussion of alternative treatment strategies.

Main Results:

• Jehovah's Witnesses' beliefs impact medical decision-making.
• Alternative strategies exist for managing anemia and bleeding.
• Perioperative care requires careful planning and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Conclusions:

• Effective management of Jehovah's Witnesses necessitates understanding their beliefs.
• A range of bloodless management options can be employed.
• Ethical and legal frameworks guide perioperative care for these patients.