Cultural Competency - Multicultural Health Generalizations: Jehovah's Witness
Jehovah's Witnesses and Bloodless Medicine
- Jehovah's Witnesses and Medical Care
- Quality Alternatives to Transfusion
- Jehovah's Witnesses - Key Beliefs & Specific Needs
- Jehovah's Witnesses - Position Overview
Jehovah Witness Health Beliefs & Practices
- Jehovah's Witnesses do not accept blood transfusions. Instead, they request nonblood alternatives. Jehovah's Witnesses carry on their person a Durable Power of Attorney for healthcare document that provides a written statement of an individual's medical choices and wishes.
- Autotransfusion techniques such as hemodilution and cell salvage are a personal decision.
- A Witness may accept immune globulins or serums made with a blood fraction based on personal conscience.
- In a rare situation, if court advice is deemed necessary, the patient, the parents or the guardian should be notified as soon as possible of such intended action. This will allow for due process of law and for the court to hear both sides so as to weigh all factors in reaching a decision, including alternative medical nonblood management.
- Jehovah's Witnesses provide spiritual comfort and practical assistance to fellow Witnesses during periods of illness or hospitalization.
- The use of tobacco and addictive drugs is prohibited. However, the medical use of drugs, including narcotics for severe pain, under the supervision of a physician is a personal decision.
- Jehovah Witnesses are opposed to eating foods that contain blood, such as certain types of lunch meats and sausages.
- Birth control is acceptable. Gestational surrogacy is considered to be unacceptable.
- Abortion is unacceptable. If, at the time of childbirth, a choice must be made between the life of the mother and the life of the child, it is up to the individuals involved to make that decision
- Circumcision is acceptable.
- Organ transplantation is an individual decision.
- Autopsies are acceptable.
- Body donation is acceptable and is an individual decision.
Sources: Detroit Hospital Liaison Committee for Jehovah Witnesses (2005).
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania (2001). "Jehovah's Witnesses Religious and Ethical Position on Medical Therapy, Child Care, and Related Matters."
Dobbins Andrews, J. (1995). Cultural, ethnic & religious reference manual for health care providers (2nd ed.). Winston-Salem, NC: JAMARDA Resources, Inc.
