A blood transfusion is a procedure in which a small needle is used to insert an IV line into one of your veins. You then receive healthy blood through this. They are done to replace blood lost during surgery, from a serious injury or if your body is unable to make blood properly because of an illness. The procedure generally takes from 1 to 4 hours depending on the amount of blood required. The donated blood must match the patients’ blood, otherwise serious complications may occur, such as an ABO incompatibility reaction, which is a rare but serious and potentially fatal response to the transfusion by your immune system. In the early 20th century, the discovery of the 4 main blood types and safe ways to prevent clotting outside the vein paved
…show more content…
The main arguments used against blood transfusions are the sacredness of blood, and its importance to its owner. According to Jehovah’s Witness Vic Chambers, who was baptized in 1957, “The life is in the blood, the blood carries oxygen and removes poisons” so to take the blood from them is equivalent to taking their life from them. There is the claim that many things can go wrong during a blood transfusion, that you have a risk of contracting hepatitis and AIDS, or various other ways of contaminating the blood. Also, an assumption that your body automatically destroys any foreign blood anyway, so a blood transfusion is moot. The other side of this argument, the advantages of blood transfusions is that they are known worldwide for saving lives. During surgery, should a patient suffer extreme blood loss and their body is unable to produce enough blood on its own in time to save themselves, then uncontaminated, perfectly healthy blood of the same type will be used to help replenish their own supply. You can also receive a blood transfusion if you suffer from any incurable disease, such as cancer, blood disorders such as sickle cell anaemia, sever liver malfunction or gastrointestinal bleeding and a blood transfusion will treat these and deliver incredible amounts of relief to the patient once receiving
The main arguments used against blood transfusions are the sacredness of blood, and its importance to its owner. According to Jehovah’s Witness Vic Chambers, who was baptized in 1957, “The life is in the blood, the blood carries oxygen and removes poisons” so to take the blood from them is equivalent to taking their life from them. There is the claim that many things can go wrong during a blood transfusion, that you have a risk of contracting hepatitis and AIDS, or various other ways of contaminating the blood. Also, an assumption that your body automatically destroys any foreign blood anyway, so a blood transfusion is moot. The other side of this argument, the advantages of blood transfusions is that they are known worldwide for saving lives. During surgery, should a patient suffer extreme blood loss and their body is unable to produce enough blood on its own in time to save themselves, then uncontaminated, perfectly healthy blood of the same type will be used to help replenish their own supply. You can also receive a blood transfusion if you suffer from any incurable disease, such as cancer, blood disorders such as sickle cell anaemia, sever liver malfunction or gastrointestinal bleeding and a blood transfusion will treat these and deliver incredible amounts of relief to the patient once receiving