Jehovah’s Witnesses: What Anesthesiologists Need to Know
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Abstract
Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs) represent a unique challenge in perioperative medicine due to their refusal of blood transfusions based on religious beliefs. This poses complex clinical, ethical, and legal dilemmas, particularly for anesthesiologists responsible for perioperative hemodynamic management and patient safety. This review summarizes JW beliefs, perioperative management strategies, ethical conflicts, legal frameworks, and global variations, including the situation in Thailand. Emphasis is placed on patient autonomy, blood conservation techniques, and medico-legal risk mitigation.
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