This has not been my experience with JW's. Please consider the following with regard to attitude - both of a JW, and a Non JW.
Hippocratic Oath -- Modern Version
Commentary in red, my own thoughts with exception to some highlighting and underlining.I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:
I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.
I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures which are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.
I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.
A true medical professional would seek to understand the reason for the choice, and to find a treatment that does not interfere with that reason. As that reason is justified by a patient's right.
One must examine then examine the meaning of such words as "priorities" and "rights."
What rights do doctors and patients have in the administration of medical care? To what extent is a patient obliged to be subject to the doctor's decision in receiving medical care, and to what extent may a doctor refuse to give the treatment the patient demands?
What is an ethical demand? An ethical demand is an absolute and overriding demand. In any conflict, ethical demands override any non-ethical interest, such as those of knowledge or self-interest. They overrule our desires and wants. Typically, we forego some desired object to meet a commitment or a duty. Ordinary examples of ethical demands are keeping promises, obeying the law and helping one's neighbor. In effect, ethical demands are those that set priorities -that is, they provide criteria for determining which treatment or action we should undertake and determine how we rank the various requirements on time, effort and resources.
A special class of ethical demands exists, often referred to as "rights." Rights are matters of justice, and override such ethical demands as simple benevolence. Rights involve duties, but these are different from other duties inasmuch as the law takes an interest in them. This means that not to perform such duties would be to violate someone's rights, and thereby to be subject to the entire apparatus of our legal institutions - the police, law, courts and perhaps even jail. In interpersonal relations, ethical demands are ultimate and absolute. In the ethical domain the demands of rights and justice override the others, even conscience.
Regardless of their own personal thoughts and beliefs, Doctors must abide by their patients ethical demands.
Scenario:
In this case some person or persons asserts that he has the right to impose his (their) beliefs and values on another. This is a conflict in ethical theory - between the idea that a knowing authority may determine what a person may do or must have done to him/her and the idea that this should be determined only by the person through the exercise of freedom and consent. The latter view asserts that no one has the right to exercise authority over another mature adult unless he/she has given voluntary consent to the exercise of authority. The former view contends that authority is based, not on consent, but on knowledge and ability. The following brings out the nature of the conflict:
If one person, who is justified in believing he has superior knowledge and judgement, decides that another person would benefit by being compelled to undergo some treatment, does his superior knowledge justify the compulsion?
Leslie A. Mulholland, PH DDepartment of Philosophy
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John's, Newfoundland A1C 5S7
Let's flip this, granted most Jehovah's Witnesses do not go on to become Doctors due to conflict of interest and beliefs - what if you had a Jehovah's Witness Doctor? One that imposed his/her stand regarding blood on you?
Would that not be in violation of YOUR rights? We know because of past experience with the Witnesses they would not violate this - they would pass the case onto a Doctor who would adhere to YOUR ethical demand.
I will not be ashamed to say "I know not," nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery.
Bloodless surgery to a large degree has advanced due to the adamant refusal of blood products by Jehovah's Witnesses. Non Jehovah's Witnesses are benefitting from these advances. The medical community has been forced to abandon certain methods of treatment, due to this demand. In the spirit of scientific discovery and technology advancement, surgeons have stepped up to the plate because they realize the value of a human life, and the right of that patient to adhere to their code ethics.
I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.
If my patient believes that they are under oath to God, then who am I to intervene?
I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.
I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.
I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.
If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.
Respect is a two way street. Doctor's and medical staff need to put aside their non-ethical interests when dealing with JW's. If they were able to do this, the hospital liasion committee would be unnecessary.