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995 of Hematology to indicate this and the "grave threats" these pose. There is no denying these facts but the QB booklet has not given a balanced picture. This same book, Hematology, states that, using sterile containers and prompt refrigeration, "there is little possibility of contamination with the common bacterial pathogens." This sentence immediately precedes those cited by the WTS. The book Hematology continues: "Modern blood bank methods make gross bacterial contamination an unlikely occurrence." (page 995) RISKS IN MANY MEDICAL PROCEDURES There are risks in transfusions, but the benefits outweigh the risks when the need for a transfusion is clearly indicated. Risks exist with other medical procedures such as operations and the administration of drugs and medicines, particularly those that are self-prescribed, such as Aspirin. HANDLING MEDICAL EVIDENCE The book God, Blood and Society, which is cited in the booklet at Reference 40 (page 36) as authoritative, states: "The fact that the practice of blood transfusion can be abused does not ipso facto make the practice as such undesirable, as the Jehovah's Witnesses suggest." (page 42) The existence of risks does not preclude the acceptance of medical procedures. The WTS accepts risks when it permits medical processes and when it accepts the use of some blood components. Concerning the risks from treatment in a large Australian hospital, a survey showed errors in the administration of drugs to be as high as 13% (Melbourne Herald, Dec. 29, 1978, page 5). Would the WTS categorically state that the administration of all drugs should therefore cease? Would the WTS suggest that since more than 10,000 persons died in 1978 in the United States while undergoing unnecessary operations (Melbourne Herald, op.cit.), that no operations should be performed? REASONS FOR TRANSFUSIONS The final reference to Hematology appears at page 50 of the QB booklet (reference 80). The quotation is used with the intent of indicating that: ©1987 Doug Mason 53 doug_mason1940@yahoo.com.au 5: Handling Medical Evidence "Blood is not a tonic or a stimulant. . . A transfusion serves only to augment total blood volume, to enhance the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, and as a source of normal plasma constituents such as platelets and coagulant factors." (page 985). The quote in the QB booklet omits all the words emphasised, presumably because the WTS permits the use of blood plasma constituents for those purposes cited, such as Factor 8 for haemophiliacs. The sentences in Haematology immediately preceding the sentence quoted by the WTS provides the context: "Insofar as possible only that component (or components) of blood that is deficient should be given. For example, a person who has a chronic anemia lacks red cells not plasma, a patient with a coagulation factor deficiency needs plasma not red cells, and an individual with acute hemorrhage ordinarily requires whole blood. Blood is not a tonic or a stimulant; it will not promote wound healing or suppress an infection. . . (etc., as related in the QB booklet, page 50)." (Hematology, page 985) The QB booklet attacks the two issues of "augmenting total blood volume" (page 50) and "enhancing the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood" page 51. In a carefully presented analysis, in which he states "one cannot set fort guidelines for transfusion therapy applicable in all cases", Linman gives "the basic indications for a blood transfusion" on this same page of his book. The WTS did not care to consider Linman's reasoning in full, nor did it provide the list of "basic indications": "The basic indications for a blood transfusion are (1) to increase blood volume when hypovolemia consequent to acute blood loss threatens the integrity of the circulatory system, (2) to increase the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood to prevent serious tissue hypoxia, (3) to supply deficient plasma factors in patients with certain coagulation abnormalities, (4) to remove deleterious materials from the blood (e.g., exchange transfusions in infants with erythroblastosis fetalis), and (5) to prime an artificial kidney or heart-lung machine." (page 985) The QB booklet attempts to belittle the evidence given by Linman in his book, by calling in apparently contradictory evidence from other medical sources. However, the booklet fails to reveal that in the immediate context, the book clearly states there is an efficient physiological mechanism to [ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ] |
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