Management of the Jehovah's Witness in Obstetrics and Gynecology: A Comprehensive Medical, Ethical, and Legal Approach.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to review medical, ethical, and legal implications of managing Jehovah's Witness patients in obstetrics and gynecology, including alternatives to blood transfusion such as iron supplementation.
Results Summary
The study highlights iron supplementation as a key medical management option for anemia in patients refusing blood transfusions, alongside other therapies like erythropoietin and emerging treatments. Early diagnosis and treatment initiation are emphasized for effective management.
Population
Jehovah's Witness patients in obstetrical and gynecological settings who refuse blood transfusions.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
iron supplementation | neutral | anemia | patients who refuse blood transfusion | - | medical management option | #1 |
erythropoietin | neutral | anemia | patients who refuse blood transfusion | - | medical management option | #2 |
antihepcidin antibodies | neutral | anemia | patients who refuse blood transfusion | - | promising therapy in development | #3 |
hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers | neutral | anemia | patients who refuse blood transfusion | - | promising therapy in development | #4 |
antifibrinolytics | decrease | blood loss | patients who refuse blood transfusion | - | option to decrease blood loss | #5 |
desmopressin | decrease | blood loss | patients who refuse blood transfusion | - | option to decrease blood loss | #6 |
recombinant factor VII | decrease | blood loss | patients who refuse blood transfusion | - | option to decrease blood loss | #7 |
factor concentrates | decrease | blood loss | patients who refuse blood transfusion | - | option to decrease blood loss | #8 |
minimally invasive approaches | decrease | surgical blood loss | patients who refuse blood transfusion | - | should be pursued | #9 |
IMPORTANCE: Obstetricians and gynecologists frequently deal with hemorrhage so they should be familiar with management of patients who refuse blood transfusion. Although there are some reports in the literature about management of Jehovah's Witness patients in obstetrics and gynecology, most of them are case reports, and a comprehensive review about these patients including ethicolegal perspective is lacking. OBJECTIVE: This review outlines the medical, ethical, and legal implications of management of Jehovah's Witness patients in obstetrical and gynecological settings. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A search of published literature using PubMed, Ovid Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases was conducted about physiology of oxygen delivery and response to tissue hypoxia, mortality rates at certain hemoglobin levels, medical management options for anemic patients who refuse blood transfusion, and ethical/legal considerations in Jehovah's Witness patients. RESULTS: Early diagnosis of anemia and immediate initiation of therapy are essential in patients who refuse blood transfusion. Medical management options include iron supplementation and erythropoietin. There are also some promising therapies that are in development such as antihepcidin antibodies and hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers. Options to decrease blood loss include antifibrinolytics, desmopressin, recombinant factor VII, and factor concentrates. When surgery is the only option, every effort should be made to pursue minimally invasive approaches. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: All obstetricians and gynecologists should be familiar with alternatives and "less invasive" options for patients who refuse blood transfusions.