Been sent this - could be an interesting story - seems totally unrelated to recent events in Canada, but see under the sub-heading 'Debate after birth' - translation is via google, which is unfortunately not very good :(
From the Thursday 8 December 2016 print editon of Agderposten newspaper - a Norwegian daily newspaper with a circulation of just under 20,000 (so admittedly a relatively small regionally based circulation newspaper)
Splashed over the front page with a double page spread over pages 6 and 7
Sier nei til blodbevis
Jehovas vitner har laget et blodkort for overføring i en akuttsituasjon. Sørlandet sykehus nekter å akseptere kortene – noe trossamfunnet reagerer sterkt på.
Godtar ikke Jehovas vitners blodbevis
Jehovas vitner har et kort i lommeboka som slår fast at de nekter å motta blodoverføring. Men Sørlandet sykehus aksepterer ikke disse kortene.
Says no to blood evidence
Witnesses have made a blood card for transmission in an emergency. Southern hospitals refuse to accept cards - something religious community reacted strongly.
Does not accept Jehovah's Witnesses blood evidence
Witnesses have a card in your wallet stating that they refuse to receive blood transfusion. But Southern hospitals do not accept these cards.
FRONT PAGE
Says no to blood evidence
Witnesses have made a blood card for transmission in an emergency. Southern hospitals refuse to accept cards - something religious community reacted strongly.
PAGES 6 and 7
Does not accept Jehovah's Witnesses blood evidence
Witnesses have a card in your wallet stating that they refuse to receive blood transfusion. But Southern hospitals do not accept these cards.
- We do not accept forhåndserklaeringer. The patient must be competent to give consent in that particular moment to refuse blood transfusion, says Per Engstrand, Director at Southern hospitals.
Faith Society Jehovah's Witnesses believe the Bible forbids transfusions. The members usually have a declaration in your wallet that makes it clear that under no circumstances must be given blood. The so-called blood card signed by two witnesses.
Provides blood
To refuse to accept blood transfusion at Southern hospitals must surgery be scheduled. That in emergency situations where health professionals have not been able to talk with the patient beforehand, it will be given blood if it is needed.
- Refuse is part of a mutual agreement, and not made unilaterally. The patient should be fully aware if the requirement of blood refusal should be respected. The patient must be competent to give consent, and can be neither unconscious, obscure, demented or have head injury. This is common practice in Norwegian hospitals, says Engstrand.
Expect acceptance
Bjarne Hermansen (70) from Grimstad's Witness. He reacted strongly to the hospital does not accept forhåndserklaeringer and thus can give blood transfusion after acute events such as road accidents.
- Blood card tells our position when we are unable to tell it yourself. Patients' Rights Act gives patients the right to decide over their own lives. The law states that the patient's desire to be respected, says Hermansen, who is coordinator of the congregation Kingdom Hall in Grimstad.
He carries with him a forhåndserklaering in your wallet, and the registration document folder in the car.
- The card can be used worldwide. I have no medical education and adds me not up in the doctor reviews. But I expect that standpoint I have taken on religious grounds, are respected, says Hermansen, who is coordinator of the church in Grimstad.
Witnesses do not accept blood transfusions, but seek medical attention in case of illness.
- We are deleted no martyrs but are happy in life and want our children to survive. We are willing to accept any treatment without blood transfusions, says Hermansen.
Broke his neck
Grimstad man has even had to use blood his card, after a neck fracture in 2001.
- Kona sent a copy of the statement to the doctor as a precaution. I know many who have lost a lot of blood, and which do well without getting blood transfusion, says Hermansen.
He refers to a worldwide register of so-called "bloodless" hospital. He believes that many operations in Norway would have been implemented without the use of blood transfusion - and thrown in with better results.
- I recently visited a ward member who lost a lot of blood in conjunction with a hip operation. She objected to blood transfusion, and fared well. There are alternatives. Some are sent to Oslo to receive treatment, and there is a serious and challenging dilemma when one is in the midst of the situation. I hope that our opinion be respected, even when we've been out for acute accidents, says Hermansen.
He is happy that the hospital warehouse procedures with intent to attend Jehovah's Witnesses want.
Debate after birth
The reason for the new policy by Sørlandets hospitals, a doctor at the Southern hospitals was criticized by the patient ombudsman for giving a blood transfusion to a Jehovah's Witness during childbirth in 2010, against her will. It created a fierce debate.
Following this incident, Southern hospitals worked extensively with the theme Witnesses and blood transfusions. The new guidelines were approved in May this year.
In Patients' Rights Act is a clause that gives Jehovah's Witnesses the right to refuse to receive blood or blood products because of serious convictions.
The same clause requires that in order to fulfill this wish, healthcare providers need to be able Front Cover
Kre themselves that this is a self-chosen, well-considered and lasting conviction. It is difficult in an emergency.
"Patients must understand the consequences of refusal will get. Patients should receive adequate information about diagnosis and treatment, and the consequences refusal of blood transfusion can get. The patient must be competent to give consent, "says the policies of Southern hospitals.
The patient must sign on the hospital form. The patient must be over 18 years.
Situations annually
When the issue of blood transfusion becomes applicable, shall treating physician ask the patient about the refusal still stands firm. In operation under general anesthesia, the patient should be asked whether this immediately before surgery.
The clinical ethics committee at Southern hospitals have been involved in preparing the document. Here include psychologists, doctors, nurses, art technician and lawyer represented.
- We are satisfied with the guidelines, said Engstrand.
- How often arise situations where Jehovah's Witnesses contradict themselves blood transfusion at Southern Hospitality?
- I do not have the exact number, but we have these situations every year. We are familiar with the problem, and therefore has worked extensively with the guidelines here in the south, said Engstrand.
FACTS (BOX)
JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
- The movement has about 15,000 members in Norway distributed in 170 congregations.
- Jehovah's Witnesses do not accept blood transfusions, but seek medical attention in case of illness. They refuse to perform militaertjeneste and does not participate in political life.
Main Picture: NOT ACCEPT "BLOOD CARD": Southern hospitals do not accept Witnesses forhandserklaeringer to refuse a blood transfusion, but give blood if needed. The picture shows the correct Sal Grimstad
Small Picture: TEAM GUIDELINES: Technical director Per Engstrand