EXTRACTS FROM OPINION, DATED FEBRUARY 2, 2024:
“I would like to emphasize that these patients [Jehovah’s Witnesses] have always left me with the impression of being caring and disciplined people. They themselves clearly communicate their problems, needs and their beliefs. They would themselves seek for help (in most cases they were oncological patients). There are also healthcare committees of Jehovah’s Witnesses, which include delegated responsible persons, who always help to solve and coordinate provision of services, if any issues or questions come up. I never had any conflict situations with Jehovah’s Witnesses. …
Second, their healthcare committees, through their responsible persons, from time to time provide clinicians with up-to-date information on bleeding control measures, various techniques or anemia treatment tactics, which is practical and useful for clinicians’ work. As an organization, they seem to be willing to cooperate with individual doctors as well as with hospitals (e.g. in the acquisition of specific equipment, like so-called cell savers).
I would argue that, while respecting the rights and duties of patients to take care of their own health, any doctor must also respect patients’ beliefs, including religious beliefs, when providing services. In cooperation, this usually does not cause any difficulties in real work. I can say this from my 35 years of experience as a urologist.” (Original in Lithuanian.)