One Case at a Time Blog
observations from an anesthesiologist and mother of
two
Originally published January 2012
The anesthesia scheduling office accidentally placed me in
an operating room tomorrow with a patient who is a Jehovah’s Witness. It was a
paperwork slip-up; I am new and someone forgot to put my name on the “never”
list. There are three options for anesthesiologists at my hospital: You will
provide anesthesia for Jehovah’s Witnesses
- For all operations
- Only for operations that are not expected to involve great blood loss
- Never
Of course, all anesthesiologists agree to care for
Jehovah’s Witnesses who have a life-threatening emergency if we are the only one
available.
I had chosen number three: never. I called the scheduling
office and they apologized and switched me to a different operating room.
My lack of faith in any nameable higher being is so firm
that I can not reconcile it with what Jehovah’s Witnesses would ask me to do.
Their practice comes, of course, from the bible. According to watchtower.org,
the official website of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the belief that “Taking blood
into body through mouth or veins violates God's laws” comes from three biblical
passages: Gen. 9:3, 4; Lev. 17:14; Acts
15:28, 29.
(cut)
I am morally incapable of letting someone bleed to death.
In my operating room, when I am delivering anesthesia, I am responsible
completely for that person’s life. This responsibility weighs heavily on me
until each patient is safely out of the operating room. I welcome the weight. I
care for each person deeply.
Thanks to Ed Zuckerman for this information.
