There is another common misconception that occurs from time to time. A patient states that he/she does not accept transfusions - and actually is willing to accept transfusions that are not blood related. In one instance, medical personnel queried the statement with a patient, only to discover that the patient's statement referred only to blood.It did not refer to the principle of fluid transfusion, generally. This misunderstanding has certainly happened in some UK hospitals.

The point HIS made with me was to clearly delineate between blood transfusion and blood products. If this education is not done in a hospital, then personnel may write no blood products. Thus, excluding some therapies the individual might consider. Perhaps my message was not clear. Sorry.

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Yvette Bunch

This is a very important point. Just to take it a few steps further, there are manufactured and non-manufactured products. I hightly recommend coordinators, directors to use an educational tool that has been helpful to me - and that is Dailey's Fourth Edition of Notes on Blood. Chapter 20 addresses Blood Fractions and Recombinant Products.

I thank all of you who have participated in this and the many other 'discussions'. Clearly, it is difficult sometimes to hold back the urge to express deeply held religious convictions as they relate to these dialogs. Understandably, it is difficult on occasion to discern where and when to draw the line. As we prepare our thoughtful comments to contribute to any discussion, please remember that the goal of NoBlood.org is to facilitate constructive dialog regarding healthcare issues.

Thank you for your understanding.

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Larry Eitel
President & Webmaster

Click here and see who are advancing transfusion alternatives and blood management.

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Thank you.

Well put Larry. Some people do not know where to draw the line in this kind of format. I am glad you are serving as a monitor to this site, and I feel you are doing an excellant job of keeping the dialogue pertinent to the discussion at hand.

I found the new healthcare directive excellent - it made me think and research a complex subject, using both the Organisation's publications and those available from other sources (inc here). A main point of the exercise was for people to become educated in what medical care they wanted for themselves, with regard to the conscious matter of minor fractions. I am not a highly educated or particularly knowledgeable person and have managed to do this. However, unfortunately, I do agree with the earlier statement made about the lack of knowedge in healthcare workers. That is frightening.

I am looking for a form similar to the JW Medical Directive Form for a non-Witness. I had a site, but did not bookmark the site, and can not remember its URL. Any help will be appreciated.
PS: If this is not the correct place to make this request, can someone forward to the correct site... Thanks...
Lin

As a followup from the standpoint of a patient (actually my wife), she had selected the "please discuss" option, because she wanted to discuss the various blood fractions to decide what she needed and was willing to take. For example, she is not particularly comfortable with any fractions, but she was willing to take EPO because she needed it and the amount of fractions used is very small.

However, one area which we did find frustration was in the medical personnel not taking the time or having the patience to realize that (a) she was not familiar with the terminology, and (b) with a low hemoglobin level and having gone through 2 surgeries back-to-back (each time - 4 total), it was not easy for her to absorb the information.

In having discussions with her after-the-fact, I have realized that the after-effects of anestesthia (SP?) and low blood-count made it difficult for her to follow everything. Fortunately for her, I have a general understanding of the medical terminology and technology, so I was able to help her. We ran into this both in St. Louis and Chicago.

But this is a point for hospital administrators and care directors: <b>please take into consideration that conditions may make for there to be more questions / not "getting it"</b>.

Hope this helps some.

This is an excellent point, which is exacerbated by the option C of the current DPA card. It states (in essence) that patient wishes to defer discussing what minor fractions they accept until they're potentially in the hospital. Because of the above-mentioned affects of trauma, anesthesia, etc. patient could be conscious yet in a mentally degraded state, maybe subtly.

Previously we always strongly recommended all JW patients make an informed choice and decide ahead of time what they would accept, and putting those specific choices in writing on the DPA. However the presence and prominence of option C on the new DPA card ensures that some will defer their decision until a healthcare crisis.

As csdgp mentioned, it's important to remember your mental faculties could be degraded by the medical condition or associated treatment. It's not a black-and-white matter of patient being obviously incapacitated, whereby the designated health-care agent would take over. The patient could be fully conscious and apparently rational and coherent, yet judgment could be affected by the condition or treatment, especially certain analgesics and anesthetics.

E.g, after two alcoholic drinks you might appear completely sober and rational, even to your closest friends. However your judgment could be affected. Would you want to make a life-affecting decision in that state? It's similar with trauma and anesthesia.

Therefore it seems wise to make an informed decision beforehand, put those specific details in writing, and not wait to discuss those options with medical personnel during a possible time of crisis.

In reference to finding a document similar to what Jehovah's Witnesses carry--that is called and Advance Directive, or Health Care Power of Attorney (HPOA) or Durable Power of Attorney (DPA). If you are in the United States you can obtain your state specific form at any hospital. There is a place for added health care instructions not covered in the document. It is here you can add anything important to you in your health care. Some states require this document be notarized. Other states, such as here in S.C. just require two witnesses to your signature. There are other organizations that would have access to these documents--such as Death with Dignity, or local Hospice organizations. Hope this helps. Best wishes in your search.

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Yvette Bunch