Neil H. Baum, MD, presented “My Experience with a Jehovah’s Witness Patient” for the Grand Rounds in Urology audience in October 2020.
How to cite: Baum, Neil H. “My Experience with a Jehovah’s Witness Patient” October 2020. Accessed Apr 2024. https://grandroundsinurology.com/my-experience-with-a-jehovahs-witness-patient/
My Experience with a Jehovah’s Witness Patient – Summary:
GRU Contributing Editor Neil H. Baum, MD, Professor of Urology at Tulane Medical School, shares his experience treating a Jehovah’s Witness patient, and how he managed to balance the patient’s health with his and his family’s faith. The patient was undergoing a radical nephrectomy and, due to proscriptions of his religion, his son did not want him to receive any blood transfusions during the operation. However, when his family was not around, the patient said he was not as religious as his son and would like a blood transfusion if it were medically necessary. During the surgery, the patient lost a significant amount of blood and did need a blood transfusion, which he received, and Dr. Baum describes how he navigated the delicate situation of saving his patient without directly informing his family how he did so. Was it better to tell the truth or lie to protect his patient? He discusses the ethics behind the decision that he made and the lessons that he learned from it.
For more commentary from Dr. Baum, visit his Improving Your Urology Practice page.
