Orthopaedic Surgery in the Jehovah's Witness Patient: Clinical, Ethical, and Legal Considerations.

Journal: The Journal Of Bone And Joint Surgery. American Volume
Published:
Abstract

➢ Jehovah's Witnesses refuse allogeneic blood products based on religious beliefs that create clinical, ethical, and legal challenges in orthopaedic surgery, requiring detailed perioperative planning and specific graft selection.➢ Detailed perioperative planning is particularly important for procedures with high intraoperative blood loss.➢ Graft selection must align with Jehovah's Witnesses patients' religious beliefs, with options including autografts, allografts, and synthetic materials; this requires shared decision-making between the patient and surgeon.➢ A multidisciplinary approach, integrating medical, ethical, and religious considerations, ensures optimal care, with innovative techniques and open dialogue being key to successful outcomes.

Authors
Benjamin Stone, Tucker Callanan, Alejandro Perez Albela, Bryce Basques