EXTRACTS FROM OPINION, DATED JANUARY 11, 2023:
“For over 20 years, the Hôpital Privé Geoffroy Saint Hilaire has been providing care for Jehovah’s Witness patients (Orthopedics, Gynecology, Vascular and Digestive Surgery). My specialty is digestive surgery, and in particular oncological surgery. I perform an average of 50 operations a year on Jehovah’s Witnesses for this type of condition. We never discriminate against these patients, and we respect their beliefs. Scientific and technological advances in medicine and surgery have been very significant since the early 2000s, and we know that several studies have shown that heavy bleeding intraoperatively significantly increases the rate of postoperative morbidity and mortality. We therefore apply the same protocols to all patients whether Jehovah’s Witnesses or not. …”
“As regards our dealings with the HLC [Hospital Liaison Committees of Jehovah’s Witnesses], they are naturally very good, given that we’ve known them for over 20 years. We have never had any pressure from them on the way we handle Jehovahs Witness patients. Their role is above all to direct patients to centers where they are welcomed with all the empathy and kindness that any patient is entitled to, whatever their beliefs. …” (Original in French.)