Management of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in Jehovah’s Witness
Medicine is not only providing health care to the society, but it also incorporates respecting religious beliefs of individual members of the society and providing the best care
possible with the available resources.
Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW) are distinct from other members of community where medical
management dissects with their religious beliefs. JW are actively
present in many countries but do not form the major religious
group in any country.
As per the 2013 yearbook of JW, worldwide population of JW who are actively involved is roughly 7.7 million.1Their estimated world-wide growth rate is around 2.1%
with 3.8 million individuals in the US following this practice.
There is a common belief among this group of individuals to not use blood transfusions or blood derived products due to religious beliefs. JW consider whole blood transfusion as a violation of
God’s law.
Main body of JW directs followers to refuse blood transfusions in a “life-or-death situation” and many times acceptance of blood transfusion may lead to their expulsion from
the religion and life-long social suffering.
However, when such individuals presents for medical issues where such drastic measures are necessary, it becomes an ethical dilemma for the care provider.
One of such area is Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in JW. Lakatos, et al. reports
incidence rate of ulcerative colitis can be up to 24.5/100,000 persons, while that of crohn’s disease can be up to 16/100,000 persons worldwide, with the prevalence rate of IBD up to 396/100,000 persons.
Gastro Open J. 2015; 1(5): 114-118. doi: 10.17140/GOJ-1-120
