Attitudes of Cardiac Anaesthesiologists regarding care of the Jehovah’s Witness patient undergoing surgery

Abstract

Aim
The views of Irish cardiac anaesthesiologists on Jehovah’s Witness patients who require cardiac surgery while refusing blood transfusion are unknown. We aimed to assess whether these doctors would willingly treat, or forego involvement with this patient cohort, given the foreseeable complications.

Methods
All consultant cardiac anaesthesiologists in Ireland were e-mailed an anonymised cross-sectional survey with 17 quantitative and 1 free-text qualitative question. The results were analysed by Stata 17 software.

Results
Valid survey results were received from 26, a response 32 (82%). The majority 23 (88.5%) professed willingness to support a colleague who conscientiously objected to treating Jehovah’s Witness patients. One said they would not offer such care 1 (3.8%). Most 19 (73%) had treated Jehovah’s Witnesses undergoing cardiac surgery, with 15 (58%) using different preoperative strategies.

Discussion
The refusal of blood transfusions raises bioethical issues in high-risk procedures, and could prompt doctors to refuse involvement, analogously to recent legislation on termination of pregnancy. We found very low rates of such reluctance however with support for hypothetical colleagues who might feel otherwise. It appears that cardiac anaesthesiologists are willing to take a professional risk where it is consistent with the patients values but at odds with their own.