Refusal of Transfusion for Religious Reason

Abstract

  In Japan, as is in the USA, Jehovah's Witness patients refuse transfusion for religious reasons. At first medical providers ignored their refusal because transfusions can be critical in saving the patient. But in time, medical providers began to respect their request and treated patients without effective means. Now their refusals are honored as an informed decision. The result of violating the refusal was litigated in court. Supreme Court upheld the damages award of violating the patient's will.
  Problems are still in dispute as for children, whose will must also be respected, but in the case of not expressing their own will, parents of Jehovah's Witness children refuse to get a transfusion.