Bloodless Medicine and Surgery patients include a growing number of individuals who for religious, or other reasons, refuse blood transfusions or the use of blood products during their treatment and care.

1.  Patients with Health Concerns - Many patients have chosen to become familiar with the health risks associated with transfusion medicine and have thus made an informed decision to refuse blood as a treatment option.  Such patients are looking to avoid a transfusion, opting for the use of alternative treatment.  However, most will state that in a life threatening emergency they will accept a blood transfusion.  Others are looking to avoid possible transfusion reactions and to minimize the risk of contracting infectious diseases such as those listed (see "Transfusion Hazards".)

2.  Jehovah's Witnesses - Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusions and the use of blood products so as to adhere to their strong religious conviction that the Bible commands to "abstain from blood."  Such a refusal of blood and blood products should not be confused with the refusal of medical treatment.  Jehovah's Witness are agreeable to many non-blood alternatives such as those listed in this publication.  Because of their strong religious beliefs Jehovah's Witnesses will refuse blood as a treatment option under any and all circumstances.