Some patients do not wish to receive blood transfusions for religious reasons. Among these
are Jehovah’s Witnesses, who adhere to a religious prohibition on transfusion of blood.
However, stances on transfusion may vary from person to person or from procedure to
procedure. Most blood components are generally refused by Jehovah’s Witnesses,
although acceptance of plasma derivatives and of components prepared from other
components, such as cryoprecipitate, is considered to be a matter for personal decision.
Generally, autogeneic blood deposited prior to surgery, which has been stored, is not
allowed, but perioperative blood recovery and acute isovolemic hemodilution are generally
accepted. Alternative approaches, including blood-saving surgical and anesthetic
techniques and devices, hemostatic agents, and non-blood volume expanders (such as
dextran, saline and pentastarch) are appropriate