Perioperative management of jehovah’s witnesses

There are approximately 8.5 million Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs) worldwide, with 101,246 currently live in Korea. JWs have refused allogenic blood transfusion on religious grounds since 1945. This has presented challenges and ethical dilemmas for anesthesiologists and related healthcare staff in providing care to this group. Due to the rapid increase in the membership of JWs in Korea, physicians, especially anesthesiologists, should be prepared to manage JW patients, because they are usually the ones who are responsible for transfusion during the perioperative period. An informed consent to recommended treatment is at the heart of this guideline. JWs’ refusal of blood transfusion is a legally protected right. Administration of blood products against their will is a potentially criminal act subject to prosecution. This review examines the perioperative issues and management of JWs. The history and beliefs of JWs, their impact on ethics and the law, and various management options throughout the perioperative period are discussed here.