Expert Opinions > Expert Medical Opinions > Professor Umberto Cillo

Professor Umberto Cillo

Europe | Italy

EXTRACTS FROM OPINION, DATED DECEMBER 19, 2023:

“During my career I have been able to perform dozens and dozens of surgeries without using blood transfusions on Jehovah’s Witness patients. … The experience gained on patients who refuse blood together with new scientific evidence and microsurgery techniques that allow us to control vessel by vessel, enables us to prevent major bleeding in both intra and post-operative even in extremely complex cases of oncological surgery. The vast majority of our surgeries and even transplants are done absolutely without the use of blood even on patients who might accept it.”

“From a medical point of view, I always feel great satisfaction in providing my professional work by taking into account the self-determination and the existential and spiritual values of each person, especially when it comes to minors.

… Usually parents show considerable reasonableness in what they expect from us doctors. Being able to respect their values and see their satisfaction at the moment of their hospital discharge always gives a boost to do better and at the same time to save a limited resource such as the blood that comes from donors.” (Original in Italian.)