EXTRACTS FROM OPINION, DATED JANUARY 16, 2024:
“I … was appointed as the Macintosh Professor of Anaesthetics by the Royal College of Anaesthetists in 2021. I am now the Vice-President of the Association of Anaesthetists, the membership organisation for > 10,000 anaesthetists in UK and Ireland. …”
“… in all my dealings with Jehovah’s Witnesses who represented them for the hospital and region and the UK, they have always been helpful, collaborative, useful and polite and I have no hesitation in working with them.
In my view, many surgical procedures CAN be undertaken without the need for blood transfusion, and this is reflected in the literature including many paper written by my research group and others. The use of intravenous iron, erythropoietin, cell salvage and factor concentrates has been shown to be safe, effective and highly advantageous and there is no scientific doubt that Surgery WITHOUT blood transfusion is associated with better outcomes for patients, including of course Jehovah’s Witnesses. Patients who attend for surgery who are Jehovah’s Witnesses are extremely well informed about their options and surgical and medical treatment and it has always been a privilege to look after them. In addition, Jehovah’s Witnesses who bring their children to hospital for surgery have always been well informed and very caring and compassionate when dealing with them and their children. The Hospital Information Services have been helpful in discussing options for treatment and consent and have always been available and courteous when contacting them.
Overall, my clinical and research experience has taught me that blood transfusion is rarely needed even during major surgery and that many alternatives are available, and that patients often have better outcomes if blood transfusion is avoided. In fact, our Jehovah’s Witnesses patients have had the best outcomes of any patient group and I am always happy to consult with and look after them and their children if they need surgery.” (Original in English.)