And this question has been thoroughly canvassed and answered in this forum. Hospital ethics committees must hammer out a policy that covers these types of situations, after due consultation with all stakeholder: transfusion committees, Jehovah's Witnesses' hospital liaison committees,and legal advisers. Policies may vary from one institution to another, but should be flexible enough to allow for different contingencies in emergent situations.

I was thinking about this earlier!!! My co-worker (not JW) was telling me that her mother, who had a Cholecystectomy, was given a blood transfusion before starting the surgery and during surgery. She said her mom was not anemic or anything and the reason for it was "just in case". I asked her if the doctor had at least gone over the "options" before giving her a blood transfusion and she said "No, I didn't know there were other options". I was surprised when she said that. I though that it was the doctor's responsibility to give us our options. I see I was very wrong. I'll be more careful about what I don't ask.

There are many risks in having a blood transfusion just as there are side effects from most medications. Some of the side effects of certain medications is possible death, and Federal law mandates that the side effects are made clear or at least warnings are given on medications. Doctors believe that transfusions of RBC's etc are "good medicine." It is most amazing that this practice of using blood as medicine is not bound by the same guidelines.

Speaking as a JW - we have just updated ours even though we carry a valid one already. We are advised every January just how important this document is. We had a letter read out which came with the current instructions for this document. I was clear that if we DON'T fill out and have the document properly witnessed and don't carry it - we cannot expect the medical professionals to do anything other than carry out the same treatment as they would for anyone else, including giving blood. I my own counselling of those associated with my local congregation, I stress the need to get this done, give copies to legal asssociates if we have them, our GP, family, friends, the congregation files, glove compartment of the car etc... There is no limit to the number of copies we can make of the original.
Elsewhere we had a thread discussing visible signs such as necklet or key fob -I commented there that my keyring has a 30mmx30mm clear acrylic fob inside which is a picture of the 'NO BLOOD' frontage of the Advance Directive with a note asking the finder to look in my wallet,or purse. I recommend these to everyone.
As paramedics and nurses my remove keys etc. from a patient during the process of preparing for theatre - hopefully, this fob will draw attention to the fact that we have an unconscious JW. Equally, police may turn off the ignition of a crashed car and remove the keys - they too may see the fob and tell the paramedics.
PASS THE MESSAGE ON - CARRY YOUR ADVANCE MEDICAL DIRECTIVE AT ALL TIMES!
It makes sense!

I answered in the survey as - ask and take the word of relatives and/or siblings - because they will have most recent knowledege of the patient. However, they may not be JW's and they may say 'give blood' - your conscience would be clear in following that direction if there is no documentary evidence available. If there's time and there's doubt, legal consultation may be needed.

I am a Witness and I really appreciate this feedback about the AMDs. I will be sure to have everything as well in place as possible so that if something happens it will make the medical professional's job easier. We make this decision because of our respect for life but that point would not go to far if we did not take the time to be properly prepared.

Just saying that someone is one of Jehovah's Witnesses is not making a statement as to an individual's healthcare choices. It is the responsibility of all who do not desire blood to make that choice on a state accepted DPA form while choosing as the spokesperson one who knows and will honor the patient's wishes. A surgeon has every right and duty to give the care he/her determines appropriate in an emergency situation. This is why the DPA is so important. The surgeon who just uses a statement of a religion as permission to abstain from giving blood might have legal problems with other family members especially if the information is erroneous.