Did you know that this week Jehovah's Witnesses in 236 lands worldwide will be discussing Transfusion-Alternative Healthcare in their religious meetings. Part of their bible meeting program this week is a question and answer study regarding the video "Transfusion-Alternative Healthcare - Meeting Patients Needs and Rights" also includes the importance of the Advance directive. This will be discussed in their Service meeting mostly scheduled midweek, some are Friday or Saturday and the good news is, even in the remote areas of the earth where there are Jehovah's witnesses, bloodless medicine is being encourage as the best medical treatment.

Some of the questions to be discussed are:

- Why are some in the medical community reevaluating the use of blood tansfusions?
- 3 examples of complex surgeries: open heart/liver surgery/Orthopedic Surgery without blood transfusions
- How many physicians and surgeons worldwide have indicated their willingness to treat patients without blood transfusions? Why they are willing to do so?
- What have recent hospital studies revealed about blood use?
- What are the medical risks associated with blood transfusions?
- What conclusion have many experts reached regarding the benefits of transfusion-alternatives?
- What causes anemia? How tolerable is it in humans? What can be done to compensate for it?
- How can red-cell production be stimulated in a patient's body?
- What techniques are being used to minimize blood loss during surgery?
- Can transfusion alternatives work for young children or for people involved in life-threatening emergencies?
- What is one of the primary ethical principles of good medical care?
- Why it is important for Christians to make nonblood treatment choices in advance?

All are welcomed and free to attend.


R.Francisco