Administering a Blood Transfusion.....D/F grounds?

ScoobySnax

OK, after 10 years of being qualified, and setting up 100's of blood transfusions as a nurse, I wonder how the society would judge me. Personally I wouldn't take blood myself, but in my job if that is what is prescribed and the patients (99%) of them have consented, then it is my duty to follow medical directions, otherwise I would be professionally negligent in my care. I have no problem with this as each patient makes an informed consent as to their treatment.

I wonder though, had I been active as a JW, whether this would be grounds for re-proof or even less likely D/F. I thought about this more today as we had a Witness patient who was being "pressured" into taking a transfusion. The patient of course refused, and I was more than happy to support them, and contacted the HLC for advice.

Waffling here, but you get my drift.......... where would you stand?

Joyzabel

just my 2 cents,

but since it is up to your "conscience" as some RN's who are JWs will hang blood and some won't and you can't interferre with Dr's orders, I've NEVER heard of a nurse being df'd for hanging blood.

That is sweet of you to be supportive to a person in a time of need, even if they are brainwashed ina cult. Just keep up with the latest can do list from the WTBTs so that you can truly help JW's who are not in the know.

edited to add: it has been my experience this year with both my father & father-in-law dying due to the blood issue, I found the HLC won't tell a JW what they can take but answer "yes, you can have that" if you ask specifically about certain products. All silly games, imho

j2bf

Mulan

I found the HLC won't tell a JW what they can take but answer "yes, you can have that" if you ask specifically about certain products. All silly games, imho

And in our area, they told two people we know very well, to go ahead and take blood, and not make a fuss. One was a grown woman, who did take blood and is now out of the JW's.

The other was a child, in congestive heart failure, with a very low blood count. The HLC said they didn't want the publicity or to ruin the relationship they had worked hard for, with that hospital.

Unbelievable.

Scully

ScoobySnax:

I'm a nurse too. I've hung and administered blood transfusions as part of my training and as part of my current practice.

I personally do not have a problem with doing it. The doctor writes the order. The patient consents to the treatment. It's part of my job to make sure the doctor's orders are carried out appropriately. It's also part of my job to draw blood specimens that are ordered, and I do that too. The JW interpretation though is that blood removed from the body should be spilled out on the ground and returned to Jehovah. Yet we both know that JWs submit to blood tests all the time because they are a valuable tool for diagnosing illnesses.

The same rationale could be applied to something like selling tobacco (which has been dealt with in the magazines). Basically, the JW can work in a shop that has tobacco for sale, and even ring them through the cash register. However if the shop specialized in tobacco products only or if you were asked to work at the tobacco counter of a supermarket, that would be Inappropriate for True Christians?.

All of this, of course, is moot as far as I'm concerned since I don't give a flying pig about what the elders think. I'm at work to do my job and it's none of their business, just like I don't go around telling them how to do their jobs.

As far as being reproved or DFd over this, all I can say is that the elders will do with you what they have decided in their hearts to do with you. Justice, love and righteousness often have nothing to do with those decisions.

Love, Scully

Big Tex

It is my understanding that blood transfusions are a matter that is not a disfellowshipping offense. Rather the Society takes the legalistic approach and announces that one has disassociated themselves after participating in the transfusion. I would imagine the same would apply in your case Scoob.

Elders can, and will, do whatever they want, whenever they want and for whatever reason they want. That's the rule. They can bring one up on whatever charge they want and if they so desire can DF/DA that one. I've seen it done, and heard about it, many times.

blondie

Here is an interesting quote. Just substitute "nurse" for "doctor."

w64 11/15 pp. 682-683 Employment and Your Conscience ***

Some doctors who are Jehovah?s witnesses have administered blood transfusions to persons of the world upon request. However, they do not do so in the case of one of Jehovah?s dedicated witnesses. In harmony with Deuteronomy 14:21, the administering of blood upon request to worldly persons is left to the Christian doctor?s own conscience.

ScoobySnax

See like I said, its a bit of a confusing clouded subject, likening it to selling tobacco is one thing. When does Jehovah deem it "standing against Him?" I guess if I was a good concientious JW I would neither, adminster a transfusion (get another colleague to administer the transfusion) and likewise in a store ask to be exept from selling tobacco.

Of course thats If I were following the Truth word for word.......whichever way you look at it, in my predicament I'm shagged. Why the hell is it so difficult to be a JW, so difficult to do what you think is right, and what is expected. I despair sometimes.

Big Tex

Maybe this is God's way of telling you to listen to your own heart Scoob. You're a good guy, and you try really hard to do the right thing. But consider that at the end of the day, we all stand before God. When it's your turn let it be for what you believe in, and yes I know you agree with many Witness teachings, but really by your actions aren't you saying that you disagree with their stance on blood? And that's fine, actually I think it's great. Not because you are going against the Society but because you are standing up for what you believe in. And this is what God truly wants from us.

Realize he doesn't want a bunch of robotic automatons who do and say what is expected of them. No, he wants us to make up our own minds and believe because we want to, not because we're scared to. I think you are holding yourself up to an impossible standard and beating yourself up when you don't meet that standard. You know in your heart that Jehovah's Witnesses are not inspired, and are capable of mistakes. And yet you listen to them on this matter, instead of yourself.

Do not listen to what I say, or the elders or the posters here. Just listen to your heart. That is where God lives. Do this and you'll know what you need to do.

Chris

Scully

ScoobySnax:

Well, there are lots of other professions that neither require a person to administer blood transfusions nor sell tobacco. Window washing comes to mind.

Anyway, I think you probably chose nursing for the same reason I did - because you felt it expressed your desire to help people in a meaningful way. To stay in this profession for 10 years as you have tells me that you are dedicated to your work and you derive satisfaction from it. It tells me that this profession is a good "fit" for you.

If you or I were to ignore our desire to help people or walk away from a profession that "fits" us so well, isn't that also "standing against Jehovah"? Who is it that gave us the talent, the affinity and the desire to do what it is that we do? Those things are a gift. Had we not developed our talents and gifts to become the people we are meant to be is almost like telling Jehovah "Pffft, thanks but no thanks, I don't need no stinkin' gifts."

You know about the concept of "unconditional positive regard". I know you do. It's part of our "theology" (for lack of a better word) as nurses. You know that in theory it means that a person, at any given time in their life, operates at the best possible level that they can, within their ability to cope with the stresses and circumstances they face. Do you think that Jehovah doesn't know that you're doing the best you can, with whatever life is dishing out to you? Do you think he is incapable of having "unconditional positive regard" for you?

Worshiping Jehovah and being one of Jehovah's Witnesses are not always one and the same. Try to keep that in mind.

Love, Scully

ScoobySnax

Thanks. I'll try to take all what you said on board, especially BigTEX and Scully.

Administering a Blood Transfusion.....D/F grounds?

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