The Witnesses are members of a Christian fundamentalist group whose doctrine adheres strictly to the Bible, the Day Final Judgement and the promise of eternal salvation. Included in the practice of their faith is the total rejection of blood, belief based on many biblical passages and reiterated in the official journal of the church, The Watchtower r through studies inherent risks associated with blood transfusion. (Lee Acts 15:28, 29 ; Genesis 9:3-6, Exodus 24:3-8 ; Leviticus 17:11, 12 .) Click to Online Bible . transfusions are not the only medical practice in a given time has been strongly rejected by the Jehovah's Witnesses. Specifically, the vaccinations were banned from 1931 to 1952, for 21 years, and organ transplants by 13, from 1967 to 1980.
The Jehovah's Witness patient (TJ), has the right, based on the rights of individual autonomy, deciding whether to transfuse or not. In the case of minors or pregnant patients, many courts advocate for the child's life, indicating the need for transfusion even though the father and / or mother disagree.
The highest ethical principle at issue is the physician's duty to decide for the benefit of preserving the life of his patient and respect the autonomy of the latter. In the case of an emergency surgery, most doctors choose to transfuse the patient benefit versus Weigh ethics laws is a difficult decision to carry out. Now, in their studies, the blood components classified TJ (or blood products, commonly known) as "allowed" or "forbidden" according to, first of all, if a component "major" or "minor" , and secondly, if the component pass through the placenta during intrauterine life.
We must know that the largest component of the blood, which is not mentioned in the list, water Should not prohibited? But it's part of the blood. And besides how can you say that albumin is a component "minor" , if in 100 mL of blood there is an average of 4.5 grams of albumin, which is considerably more than the weight of leukocytes, or platelets?. By the way, prohibits the plasma, but not albumin, which is the main protein, nor prohibited globulin prohibit or clotting factors, which are also part of it. The components division "major" and "minor" is flatly irrational and arbitrary. Not to mention that to produce clinically useful amounts of any of these components "men pray " must process many liters of blood. 
The test of a component passing through the placental barrier could be subjective, as is very common for fetal red blood cells pass into the maternal circulation (that's what occurs Rh isoimmunization sensitization or fetal-maternal). Medical science has shown that almost all blood components pass through the placental barrier protects the fetus, then why ban them? ... apparently a problem of interpretation of Scripture , because each time you mention the prohibition of blood The Bible is made with respect to ingest as food, and is in form of nutrient that we are concerned prohibition. For now, the transfused blood is not digested but retained in the body similar to a transplanted organ. Simply put, to receive a nutritional benefit from the blood, we should eat and digest it to be assimilated into minimal parts as with the food, which does not occur.
argu ments The "scientific"
JWs defend his doctrine of rejection of blood following a three perspectives: the purely religious, ethical, legal and "scientific."
blood component transfusions are dangerous: they can cause fatal hemolytic reactions, may lead to graft versus host disease, can transmit diseases such as hepatitis B and C, AIDS and others. One thing that the JWs do not mention that is technological progress has been going down gradually all the risks mentioned above. There is no completely safe medical treatment. Transfusion Alternatives
there alternatives as alternatives to transfusion therapy, among which include intravenous immunoglobulin and erythropoietin (a substance produced by the kidneys that stimulates red blood cell production from bone marrow), plasma expanders, hemorrhagic, adjuvants for surgical hemostasis, among others, and some drugs. However, the cost / benefit is greater with blood products. In Chile, the belief of the TJ on the Biblical prohibition is part of religious activity and is therefore protected by the Article 19 of the Constitution of the Republic No. 6 , which recognizes freedom of conscience the manifestation of all beliefs and free exercise of all religions, is not contrary to morals, good customs or public order, which for this purpose, the patient or decision is considered by TJ the signing of a document entitled "Informed Consent" in the four lel patient or in their absence, their families, allow the NOT USE blood products as part of treatment.
see, an ethical, moral, religious and even legal ...
