I've done my share of research on this topic, but I can see this site being very helpful. I'm a Jehovah's Witness, and people are constantly judging me because "JWs don't take blood transfusions, therefore they're killing themselves." ... I try to explain to them from a medical stand point that there are readily available alternatives to straight blood transfusions that are often more effective, with less negative side effects... that don't violate Acts 15:20 which states to "abstain from blood"(among other things).

I'm sure these forums aren't meant for a religious debate, but I have to assume at least part of the life-saving research being done to find safer/more effective blood alternatives was at least partly spurred on by JWs raising a fuss on the topic. Sure, some of us died, but hopefully more will be helped as a result.

Anywho, the question:
What sort of products are available to work as replacements for blood?

I'm often insulted because when I say "I abstain from blood" ... people think I reject medical attention. But, I know there are "bloodless surgery techniques" where blood is simply conserved, etc. I know there are also starch and saline based products, which work as volumizers, and blood-based products such as albumin which I understand to have been broken down to a point inhospitable to viral infection.

What other alternatives are available? Would someone like to give me a summary of the pros/cons of a few of them? I know that volume can be restored by any number of them, but what's the preferred alternative for reoxygenating the system? Are there alternatives to restoring platelet/white cell counts apart from blood-based products? If these fractions are needed, is there a legitimate medical advantage to using that specific fraction as opposed to whole blood? I would assume infection would be less likely? The body wouldn't have so much foreign material to deal with, so healing time would improve?

... I know the answer is "Use teh search buttonz" ... And I've been searching and will continue... but I'm excited to hear these things from secular sources.

Originally Posted by the gregorian What other alternatives are available? Would someone like to give me a summary of the pros/cons of a few of them? I know that volume can be restored by any number of them, but what's the preferred alternative for reoxygenating the system? Are there alternatives to restoring platelet/white cell counts apart from blood-based products? If these fractions are needed, is there a legitimate medical advantage to using that specific fraction as opposed to whole blood? I would assume infection would be less likely? The body wouldn't have so much foreign material to deal with, so healing time would improve? ... I know the answer is "Use teh search buttonz" ... And I've been searching and will continue... but I'm excited to hear these things from secular sources.