Jehovah's Witnesses and Autonomy: Honouring the Refusal of Blood Transfusions

Overview

Journal J Med Ethics

Publisher BMJ Publishing Group

Specialty Medical Ethics

Date 2012 Jul 14

PMID 22790086

Citations 8

Authors

Gregory L Bock

Affiliations

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Abstract

This paper explores the scriptural and theological reasons given by Jehovah's Witnesses (JWs) to refuse blood transfusions. Julian Savulescu and Richard W Momeyer argue that informed consent should be based on rational beliefs and that the refusal of blood transfusions by JWs is irrational, but after examining the reasons given by JWs, I challenge the claim that JW beliefs are irrational. I also question whether we should give up the traditional notion of informed consent.

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