The Socio-Cultural Aspects of Blood Transfusion Refusal by Jehovah's Witnesses in Japan

Abstract

  I consider the problem of the refusal of blood transfusions as a kind of cultural conflict caused by new medical technology. From a cultural, anthropological viewpoint, Jehovah's Witnesses seem not to be an abnormal, antisocial religious group.
  Recently, they have tried to solve this problem by exercising the patient's right to self-determination, and they decided to select treatments that did not rely on the blood transfusion. On the other hand, the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society have enabled each believer to select for their treatment some parts of the medicine that originated in the blood. Thus, they are adapting to the social situation with regards to the problem of the blood transfusion refusal.
  It is natural that children are socialized according to the world-view and the lifestyle of their parents and the community to which they belong. Because the Supreme Court of Japan upholds their world-view and their right to self-determination in 2000, it seems that it is difficult to assume their children to be the exception in Japan.