‘Transfusion not necessary’

THE ASSOCIATION of Jehovah’s Witnesses of Trinidad and Tobago yesterday released DVDs to the media to show how patients can be successfully treated without blood transfusion. The “Transfusion Alternatives Documentary Series” is the religious group’s latest efforts to clarify its position on the matter. In recent weeks there has been a great deal of public focus on the group’s position on blood transfusions following a case in which local doctors obtained a court order to administer a blood transfusion to the premature infant of a Jehovah’s Witness couple.

In a statement accompanying the DVD, the group stated: “Medical alternatives to blood transfusions are simple, cost-effective, safe and successful. As a result, there are a growing number of health care facilities with hundreds of physicians and surgeons from all specialties offering their patients excellent medical care and treatment without the use of blood transfusions. “In the prevention of anemia in premature newborns the emphasis in recent years is the early administration of erythropoietin (EPO) during the third to fifth day of life. It is reassuring that there have never been any reported cases of serious adverse reactions in premature newborns treated with EPO.” EPO is used to increase the body’s production of red blood cells.

Among the other alternatives to blood transfusions are G-CSF (granulocyte colony stimulating factor) and GM-CSF (granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor) which are used to increase white blood cells. Interleukin-11 and, when available, thrombopoietin may be used to increase platelets. Other medications can be used to reduce bleeding during or after surgery or sudden blood loss. Special fluids, such as pentastarch, saline, or Ringer’s lactate can be used to temporarily replace the lost blood volume.