Tochukwu Nwigwe
East Los Angeles College
Philosophy 19 Section 5407
Contemporary Issues in Bioethics
Summer 2015
Jehovah Witness Belief and Patient Autonomy
Last month I had a severe pain on the right left side of my abdomen that lasted for days because I had presumed that the pain will go away. The failure of my presumption prompted me to rush to Kaiser urgent care to seek medical opinion and verification of what was wrong with me. Based on my primary physician diagnosis, I was advised to go for CAT scan examination. I was not that too pleased with the medical advice because I wanted the doctor to send me to the pharmacy to pick up some prescriptions drugs and then go home from there. I asked my doctor if I can decline/defer the CAT can examination, he said yes that I can, but that I have to sign a document stating that I was asked/offered the option of going for a CAT scan examination to accurately determine why my abdomen …show more content…
The unconscious patient decision not to have blood transfusion as expressed via his bracelet may appear irrational might look irrational, but the physician must be flexible in his beneficence to accept and respect the terminally ill patient decision to decline blood transfusion.
Also Individual’s commitment to the teachings and doctrine of Jehovah Witness vary. Some will change they mind and receive blood transfusion when it dawn on them that the only option left for them live and be with their children and loved ones is to receive the said transfusion, not minding the consequence. Some Jehovah Witness individual will change they mind and receive blood transfusion if the whole procedures will be wrap in absolute confidentiality. And the unconscious patient in the second scenario might be one the individuals who changed their
East Los Angeles College
Philosophy 19 Section 5407
Contemporary Issues in Bioethics
Summer 2015
Jehovah Witness Belief and Patient Autonomy
Last month I had a severe pain on the right left side of my abdomen that lasted for days because I had presumed that the pain will go away. The failure of my presumption prompted me to rush to Kaiser urgent care to seek medical opinion and verification of what was wrong with me. Based on my primary physician diagnosis, I was advised to go for CAT scan examination. I was not that too pleased with the medical advice because I wanted the doctor to send me to the pharmacy to pick up some prescriptions drugs and then go home from there. I asked my doctor if I can decline/defer the CAT can examination, he said yes that I can, but that I have to sign a document stating that I was asked/offered the option of going for a CAT scan examination to accurately determine why my abdomen …show more content…
The unconscious patient decision not to have blood transfusion as expressed via his bracelet may appear irrational might look irrational, but the physician must be flexible in his beneficence to accept and respect the terminally ill patient decision to decline blood transfusion.
Also Individual’s commitment to the teachings and doctrine of Jehovah Witness vary. Some will change they mind and receive blood transfusion when it dawn on them that the only option left for them live and be with their children and loved ones is to receive the said transfusion, not minding the consequence. Some Jehovah Witness individual will change they mind and receive blood transfusion if the whole procedures will be wrap in absolute confidentiality. And the unconscious patient in the second scenario might be one the individuals who changed their