Can doctors override Jehovah's Witnesses blood?

The physician may comply with the refusal to accept a life-saving transfusion if the patient made a sufficiently recent signed declaration to that effect while conscious and competent; if the parents of a minor Jehovah's Witness who is incompetent refuse permission for a life-saving blood transfusion, the physician may ...
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Can a doctors give a Jehovah's Witnesses blood?

A small group of people belonging to a certain religion, called Jehovah's witness do not accept blood transfusion or blood products, based on biblical readings.
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What happens if a Jehovah Witness refuses a blood transfusion?

If such a person refuses a blood transfusion on behalf of the patient, the medical practitioner will have to obtain a court order if he/she is of the view that a blood transfusion should nevertheless be administered.
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Why can't hospitals give blood to Jehovah's Witness?

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that a human must not sustain his life with another creature's blood, and they recognize no distinction "between taking blood into the mouth and taking it into the blood vessels." It is their deep-seated religious conviction that Jehovah will turn his back on anyone who receives blood ...
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Can a hospital take a Jehovah Witness to court to receive a medically needed blood transfusion?

In practice, when blood is emergently needed to save a minor's life, hospitals likely will provide the blood and document it in the patient's medical record. After the emergency ends or in non-emergent or chronic condition situations, hospitals typically seek a court order to provide blood products.
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Consent, Capacity and Jehovah's Witnesses - Medical Ethics



Do Jehovah's Witnesses accept organ transplants?

Jehovah's Witnesses – According to the Watch Tower Society, the legal corporation for the religion, Jehovah's Witnesses do not encourage organ donation but believe it is a matter best left to an individual's conscience. All organs and tissues, however, must be completely drained of blood before transplantation.
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Can a Jehovah Witness nurse refuse to administer blood?

The patient, for his/her part, has the right to refuse blood transfusions on religious grounds (autonomy) provided he or she is competent and able to do so.
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Do Jehovah Witnesses accept medical treatment?

Jehovah's Witnesses love life and do whatever is reasonable in order to prolong it. Hence, they seek quality health care and accept the vast majority of medical treatments.
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Are Jehovah Witnesses vegan?

Diet. Jehovah's Witnesses reject foods containing blood but have no other special dietary requirements. Some Jehovah's Witnesses may be vegetarian and others may abstain from alcohol, but this is a personal choice. Jehovah's Witnesses do not smoke or use other tobacco products.
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Can you refuse a blood transfusion?

You can refuse a transfusion, but you should know the risks and consequences. You'll need to discuss this option with your healthcare provider. 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.
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Do Jehovah Witnesses believe in resuscitation?

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that life is sacred and want lifesaving interventions except for blood transfusions.
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Can a Jehovah Witness refuse blood for their child?

Certain religious doctrines may discourage or even forbid routine medical care for children. Jehovah's Witnesses, for example, believe the Bible prohibits ingesting blood and that followers should either eschew blood transfusions or donate or store their own blood for transfusion.
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Where in the Bible does it say you can't have a blood transfusion?

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. Specifically, their beliefs include: Blood represents life and is sacred to God.
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What religion does not believe in doctors?

Today, many religious groups routinely reject some or all mainstream health care on theological grounds, including Christian Scientists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Amish and Scientologists.
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Why can't Jehovah's Witnesses celebrate birthdays?

Practicing Jehovah's Witnesses "do not celebrate birthdays because we believe that such celebrations displease God" Even though "the Bible does not explicitly forbid celebrating birthdays," the reasoning lies in biblical ideas, according to an FAQ on the Jehovah's Witnesses' official website.
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What do you say to a Jehovah's Witness when someone dies?

What to say to a Jehovah's Witness when someone dies? Don't be afraid of saying the wrong thing to a grieving Jehovah's Witness. As long as you avoid overly pagan statements such as “they are in God's hands” or “your loved one is in Heaven now”, then a comforting general statement will be received well.
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Do Jehovah Witness elders get paid?

The majority of elders are family men and maintain secular employment to support their families. Jehovah's Witnesses do not have a salaried clergy nor any employees.
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Are Jehovah Witnesses allowed to get tattoos?

Jehovah's Witnesses point to Leviticus, a chapter in the Bible that says a person “must not make tattoo markings”on themselves. Evelyn Smith, a longtime Jehovah's Witness, cited the Bible's counsel in that chapter as a key reason to avoid them, as well as the perception that it gives within the everyday work setting.
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Can Jehovah's Witnesses celebrate Valentine's Day?

Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate most holidays or events that honour people who aren't Jesus. That includes birthdays, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day and Hallowe'en. They also don't celebrate religious holidays such as Christmas and Easter in the belief that these customs have pagan origins.
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What are Jehovah Witnesses medical restrictions?

They are deeply religious and believe that blood transfusions are forbidden for them by such Biblical passages such as: “Only flesh with its soul – its blood – you must not eat” (Genesis 9:3-4); [You must] pour its blood out and cover it with dust” (Leviticus 17:13-14); and “Abstain from….
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Can a Jehovah Witness become a nurse?

As mentally competent Jehovah's Witnesses have the right to accept or refuse treatments, nurses--who are in daily contact with patients and their families-may be best placed to ensure that a patient is not being put under pressure, and understands the implications of his or her decision.
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Can Jehovah Witnesses do nurses?

Most Jehovah's Witnesses are unwilling to accept the word of a nurse about the suitability of blood products for their condition. It would benefit this group of patients if hospitals investigated the possibility of holding a list of treatments endorsed by Watchtower.
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Is there a substitute for blood transfusion?

So far, there is no real substitute for human blood. But researchers are working to develop a liquid that can carry oxygen and replace blood, at least for a short time, in certain situations.
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Can Jehovah Witness do dialysis?

Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusions, including autologous transfusions in which a person has their own blood stored to be used later in a medical procedure, (though some Witnesses will accept autologous procedures such as dialysis or cell salvage in which their blood is not stored) and the use of packed RBCs ...
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Can Jehovah's Witnesses have plasma?

Certain medical procedures involving blood are specifically prohibited by Jehovah's Witnesses' blood doctrine. This includes the use of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and blood plasma. Other fractions derived from blood are not prohibited.
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