Jehovah’s Witnesses call for blood transfusion protocol

JEHOVAH’S Witnesses have called for meetings with hospital authorities to establish a protocol for dealing with emergencies where blood transfusions are recommended for its members.

It follows yesterday’s High Court ruling that the Coombe Hospital in Dublin acted lawfully in giving a blood transfusion to a Jehovah’s Witness who wished to refuse the treatment in 2006.

Harry Homan, spokesman for the religious congregation which has an estimated 5,000, members in the Republic, said Jehovah’s Witnesses were encouraged by the court’s recommendation that guidelines should be put in place for addressing their concerns about blood transfusions before emergencies arise.