Can a person refuse a blood transfusion?

Can a person refuse a blood transfusion?

The majority of patients will accept blood and blood components if their use is necessary as part of their treatment and the clinical reasons are fully explained. However, there are some people who may decline blood components on the grounds of religious or personal beliefs.

What happens if I refuse a blood transfusion?

If you choose to refuse the transfusion, you could face permanent disability or loss of life. Blood transfusions may worry people or make them feel anxious.

Can you force a blood transfusion?

In summary, a 16 or 17 year old refusing blood in England must be given blood if it is in his or her best interests so to do. Such acquiescence as a substitute for consent, when combined with blood product administration in the patient’s best interests is considered sufficient to legitimise the transfusion.

Who would refuse a blood transfusions?

Nearly all Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse transfusions of whole blood (including preoperative autologous donation) and the primary blood components – red cells, platelets, white cells and unfractionated plasma.

Why do people not want blood transfusions?

Patients with severe injuries who refuse blood transfusion present complex medical, legal, and moral problems. Objections to blood transfusions may arise for personal, medical, or religious reasons. For example, Jehovah’s Witnesses object to blood transfusion primarily on religious grounds.

Why do we refuse to accept a blood transfusion?

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that it is against God’s will to receive blood and, therefore, they refuse blood transfusions, often even if it is their own blood. The willing acceptance of blood transfusions by Jehovah’s Witnesses has in some cases led to expulsion from and ostracisation by their religious community.

Where in the Bible does it say no blood transfusions?

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the Bible (Genesis 9:4, Leviticus 17:10, and Acts 15:29) prohibits ingesting blood and that Christians should therefore not accept blood transfusions or donate or store their own blood for transfusion.

Which of the following medical conditions would normally require a transfusion?

For example, you may need a blood transfusion if you have: a condition that affects the way your red blood cells work – such as sickle cell disease or thalassaemia. a type of cancer or cancer treatment that can affect blood cells – including leukaemia, chemotherapy or stem cell transplants.

What is the alternative to blood transfusion?

Multiple transfusion alternatives have been developed, and many are generally acceptable to a Jehovah’s Witness patient, including tranexamic acid, prothrombin complex concentrate, and fibrin glue.

What religions are against blood transfusions?

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the Bible prohibits Christians from accepting blood transfusions.

What are the dangers of blood transfusion?

Risks. Blood transfusions are generally considered safe, but there is some risk of complications. Mild complications and rarely severe ones can occur during the transfusion or several days or more after. More common reactions include allergic reactions, which might cause hives and itching, and fever.

What if a parent refuses a blood transfusion?

In particular, when the patient is a minor, consent must be given by both parents or legal guardian. If parents are not in agreement or refuse the blood transfusion, consent must be requested at the probate judge; taking into account the degree of maturity of the minor, it is advisable to obtain his/ her assent.

Can a living will prohibit blood transfusion?

Many JW carry an ‘advance directive’ prohibiting blood transfusion and often have executed a detailed Health Care Advance Directive (Living Will). Copies are usually lodged with their General Practitioner, family and friends. Case law is now very clear that such an advance directive is legally binding.

Is blood transfusion necessary during surgery?

“It used to be that the blood transfusion was a standard part of surgery. No longer. In recent years physicians have developed new methods of operating to minimize, if not totally eliminate, blood transfusions. They claim the new methods are better for the patients, too.”

Can a mentally competent person refuse blood transfusion?

It is better to discuss with patients the specifics of blood transfusion refusal, if possible.[10,11] A mentally competent individual has an absolute moral and legal right to refuse or reject the consent for medical treatment or transfusion except when he has diminished decision-making capacity or a legal intervention mandates treatment.[12,13]

What is the meaning of refusal of blood transfusion?

Refusal of blood transfusion. Definition. Patients with severe injuries who refuse blood transfusion present complex medical, legal, and moral problems. Objections to blood transfusions may arise for personal, medical, or religious reasons.