From Penton's book...picking up where he left off...:
But the whole matter caused some bad feelings, particularly among those elders who had given so much service to their brethren. The society's arguments over personal and family rights seemed facetious at best to many who were quite aware of the fact that a Jehovah's witness could be and would be disfellowshipped for voluntarily accepting a blood transfusion. Also, it seemed equally evident that unless Brooklyn itself thought of something first, it was not willing to accept new ideas. Then, finally, some of the elders affected negatively by the clampdown began to feel that the Governing Body cared little about human health or welfare, only the preaching work. Curiously, however, the Governing Body soon recognized the value of what it was to dub "Hospital Liaison Committees" and gave a green light for the re-establishment of those bodies.
Okay. This is a good place to stop and fill in some blanks and, at the same time, maybe answer Penton's curiosity. Why did the WT re-establish the hospital committees?
I am going to assume that this happened in 1979 - the date that Seeber/Shander gave in their textbook. That makes sense. Because it is time to look at another doctor that Seeber/Shander elevate to "pioneer" of the blood management movement - Ron Lapin.
It is Ron Lapin and his surgical practice that became an important cog in the HLC machine. His story fills in the gap between Brooklyn giving the thumbs down to the hospital committees in the mid 70s and their sudden reversal of heart in 1979.
After claiming that "bloodless programs" came about through the efforts of the HLC, The Seeber/Shander duo introduces Ron Lapin this way:
This laid the foundation for organized “bloodless programs.” One
of the hospitals with such a program was the Esperanza
Intercommunity Hospital in Yorba Linda, California,
where a high percentage of patients were Witnesses. Herk
Hutchins, an experienced surgeon and a Witness himself,
was known for his development of an iron - containing
formula for blood - building. Among his team was the
young surgeon Ron Lapin, who was later famed for his
pioneering work in the area of bloodless therapies. Critics
labeled him a quack. Nevertheless, he continued and was
later honored for opening one of the first organized
bloodless centers in the world, as well as for publishing
the first journal on this topic, and for his efforts to teach
his colleagues. During his career, he performed thousands
of bloodless surgeries.
So much to say. Where to start? The inaccuracies in Seeber/Shander's account are many. And bad.
Firstly, I would like to say that the blood management is really pulling from extremes. First, they give credit to one of the best heart surgeons the world has ever known - "Denton Cooley is our pioneer!". A surgeon at the top of his field. And then...they go and scrape the bottom of the barrel and pull up...Ronny Lapin. The bloodless butcher.
What a shame. To put Denton Cooley's achievements on the same page as Ron Lapin.
Time for a break...Ronny is a full installment all by himself. I will return (soon) with Herk's Hot-Line and Ronny's Hot-Knife...and what was the real reason that the WTS took the HLC under its wing in 1979.