Arun V. J: They Chose Death Over A Blood Transfusion — And Here’s Why I Stopped Judging Them
Arun V. J, Member of ADRP: The Association for Blood Donor Professionals, shared on LinkedIn:
”’They chose death over a blood transfusion — and here’s why I stopped judging them.’
We had a patient once who refused a blood transfusion — even though it could have saved their life.
At first, it felt impossible to understand.
Why would anyone say no to something that could keep them alive?
Then I learned the truth.
For some, like Jehovah’s Witnesses, refusing blood isn’t a medical decision — it’s a spiritual one.
To them, taking someone else’s blood violates a divine command.
Because medicine isn’t always about logic — it’s also about belief, identity, and trust.
The Science That Bridges Faith and Medicine
Modern transfusion medicine is evolving beautifully.
Doctors are finding ways to save lives without using donor blood.
This approach has two main pillars:
- Autologous Transfusion
- Patient Blood Management (PBM)
Autologous Transfusion: Using Your Own Blood
Autologous transfusion simply means you are your own donor.
It can be done in several ways:
Pre-deposit Autologous Donation (PAD):
Your blood is collected and stored weeks before surgery, ready to be transfused back to you if needed.
Intraoperative Cell Salvage:
Blood lost during surgery is suctioned, filtered, and immediately reinfused — all within a closed system.
Acute Normovolemic Hemodilution (ANH):
A portion of your blood is removed before surgery and replaced with IV fluids. The thinner blood lost during surgery is later replaced by your own concentrated blood.
It’s science working with nature — not against it.
Patient Blood Management (PBM): Making Every Drop Count
PBM is a structured, evidence-based strategy designed to minimize unnecessary transfusions and optimize patient outcomes.
It’s built on three principles:
Optimize the patient’s own red cell mass
– Identify and treat anemia before surgery.
– Boost hemoglobin levels using iron, B12, or erythropoietin.
Minimize blood loss during procedures
– Use meticulous surgical techniques, antifibrinolytics, and blood-sparing technologies.
Enhance the body’s tolerance to anemia
– Instead of rushing to transfuse, allow safe adaptation through oxygen therapy and monitoring.
When applied well, PBM not only respects patient beliefs — it also improves recovery, reduces infections, and saves hospital resources.
What This Means Beyond Medicine
Sometimes, healing is not just about saving a life.
It’s about respecting the values that give that life meaning.
Medicine is learning to listen — not just to symptoms, but to souls.
What do you think?
Should medicine always respect belief — even when it challenges our training?
Click to read more.”
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