Introduction
Many individuals who participate in some sort of religious activity or acknowledge the presence of a higher being. These individuals rely on their God for their spiritual needs, protection, comfort, strength and also for healing capabilities. Many Jehovah Witness (JW) believers not excluding young and old die each year due to the refusal of blood transfusion and other healthcare procedures when the need arise. Statistics according to the (American Journal of Medicine n.d.) “About 900 Jehovah’s Witnesses die each year because of the blood refusal policy.” It also emphasizes the fact that everytime a JW has “bloodless surgery” his or her chances of dying is 1% greater. Research According to the American Association of Blood Banks …show more content…
That means 4 million or 15 out of every 1000 Americans have conditions requiring blood transfusions each year.” The above alarming statistics would mean that at a point in a person’s life, one may require some blood transfusion during an emergency or those who have certain life-threatening conditions which may require a blood transfusion. There is that public perception that Jehovah Witnesses do not seek any medical treatment because of their belief. On the contrary, Jehovah Witnesses receive medical care from their own qualified Healthcare professionals who know the do’s and don’ts about the religion. Jehovah's Witness do not accept a blood transfusion or blood products, based on their biblical readings. The faith and belief of a firm believer become an obstacle to their healing process when they get ill. The refusal of blood transfusion and other medical procedures pose serious challenges to healthcare professionals from discharging their duties and contribute to high morbidity and …show more content…
The elders or leaders institute various levels of congretional disciplines to enforce strict adherence of the beliefs and moral standard are not biblically right. Some of the disciplines include but not limited to reducing the duties a member performs, disfellowshiping of a member, dissociation, and shunning of a member by the entire congregation if not deemed unrepentant. The level of punishment meted to members for accepting some medical procedures for example will deter members from participating in any healthcare program directed to reduce a pandemic. According to the Watchman, 2000) “"The receiver of a blood transfusion must be cut off from God's people by excommunication or disfellowshiping." The circumstances, under which the individual received a transfusion, or the repentance afterward, were irrelevant to the punishment incurred: "[Receiving a transfusion] is a violation of God's command to Christians, the seriousness of which should not be minimized by any passing over of it lightly as being an optional matter for the conscience of any individual to decide upon." The First Amendment of the United States ensures that there is no prohibition on the free exercise of religion. Disfellowshiping a member for receiving a medical treatment that contradict the moral principles of Jehovah Witnesses is unacceptable. Mayny citizens including children for
Many individuals who participate in some sort of religious activity or acknowledge the presence of a higher being. These individuals rely on their God for their spiritual needs, protection, comfort, strength and also for healing capabilities. Many Jehovah Witness (JW) believers not excluding young and old die each year due to the refusal of blood transfusion and other healthcare procedures when the need arise. Statistics according to the (American Journal of Medicine n.d.) “About 900 Jehovah’s Witnesses die each year because of the blood refusal policy.” It also emphasizes the fact that everytime a JW has “bloodless surgery” his or her chances of dying is 1% greater. Research According to the American Association of Blood Banks …show more content…
That means 4 million or 15 out of every 1000 Americans have conditions requiring blood transfusions each year.” The above alarming statistics would mean that at a point in a person’s life, one may require some blood transfusion during an emergency or those who have certain life-threatening conditions which may require a blood transfusion. There is that public perception that Jehovah Witnesses do not seek any medical treatment because of their belief. On the contrary, Jehovah Witnesses receive medical care from their own qualified Healthcare professionals who know the do’s and don’ts about the religion. Jehovah's Witness do not accept a blood transfusion or blood products, based on their biblical readings. The faith and belief of a firm believer become an obstacle to their healing process when they get ill. The refusal of blood transfusion and other medical procedures pose serious challenges to healthcare professionals from discharging their duties and contribute to high morbidity and …show more content…
The elders or leaders institute various levels of congretional disciplines to enforce strict adherence of the beliefs and moral standard are not biblically right. Some of the disciplines include but not limited to reducing the duties a member performs, disfellowshiping of a member, dissociation, and shunning of a member by the entire congregation if not deemed unrepentant. The level of punishment meted to members for accepting some medical procedures for example will deter members from participating in any healthcare program directed to reduce a pandemic. According to the Watchman, 2000) “"The receiver of a blood transfusion must be cut off from God's people by excommunication or disfellowshiping." The circumstances, under which the individual received a transfusion, or the repentance afterward, were irrelevant to the punishment incurred: "[Receiving a transfusion] is a violation of God's command to Christians, the seriousness of which should not be minimized by any passing over of it lightly as being an optional matter for the conscience of any individual to decide upon." The First Amendment of the United States ensures that there is no prohibition on the free exercise of religion. Disfellowshiping a member for receiving a medical treatment that contradict the moral principles of Jehovah Witnesses is unacceptable. Mayny citizens including children for