Jehovah's Witnesses and the Question of Blood Transfusion

Abstract

Refusal of blood transfusion by a Jehovah's Witness is no longer a rare occurrence. What are the physician's responsibilities in caring for such a patient? What is the law in this matter as defined by the courts? These problems cross lines between law, medicine and religion. Moreover, they go to the core of the medical and moral responsibilities of physicians and the constitutional rights of individuals.