Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine - Volume 66, Number 4, Page 277

Volume 66 Number 4
September 1999 back to contents

Blood Transfusion and the Pregnant Jehovah's Witness Patient: Avoiding a Dilemma 277 - 279

David H. Schonholz, M.D.

From the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY.
Address correspondence to David H. Schonholz, M.D., Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Box 1170, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One East 100th Street, New York, NY 10029.

ABSTRACT
The pregnant Jehovah's Witness patient's refusal of lifesaving transfusion creates a conflict for the physician. While legal steps may be initiated to address the problem, a medical approach stressing prophylaxis which anticipates and avoids the ethical dilemma of managing a hemorrhaging pregnant Jehovah's Witness is preferable.

KEY WORDS
Jehovah's Witnesses, blood transfusions, pregnancy, management protocol

Back Issues | Indexes | Search |

Volume 66 Number 4 September 1999	back to contents

Blood Transfusion and the Pregnant Jehovah's Witness Patient: Avoiding a Dilemma	277 - 279
David H. Schonholz, M.D.
From the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Address correspondence to David H. Schonholz, M.D., Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Box 1170, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One East 100th Street, New York, NY 10029.