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Treatment of patients who are Jehovah's Witnesses
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  1. Paul Wade
  1. Director, Hospital Information Services for Jehovah's Witnesses, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Britain, The Ridgeway London NW7 1RN

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    SIR

    I read with interest the recent articles by “Lee Elder”1 and O Muramoto,2 along with the accompanying editorial3 about the treatment of patients who are Jehovah's Witnesses.

    May I say that clinicans are well advised to discuss the specific, personal management options requested by each Jehovah's Witness; Witness patients will gladly outline their management preferences and their reasons for such.

    On this point it might be timely to reiterate the guidelines issued by the Royal College of Surgeons4: “It is not a doctor's job to question these principles, but they should discuss with Jehovah's Witness patients the medical consequences of non-transfusion in the management of their specific condition. It is essential to establish the views held by each Jehovah's Witness patient ...”.

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