[Blood transfusion and Jehovah's witnesses--problems in life-threatening conditions. A questionnaire among Norwegian anesthesiologists].

Patients who are members of Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusion, even when the indication for giving blood is vital. This is a matter of controversy both in the clinical situation and in the medical literature and the press. All 430 members of the Norwegian Association of Anaesthesiology were sent a questionnaire requesting the guidelines issued by their hospitals, and their personal, professional opinion when dealing with this group of patients under life-threatening conditions caused by loss of blood. 248 (58%) replied. 69% of the answers indicated that the guidelines given by the National Board of Health were unclear. Under certain circumstances as many as 79% of the responding physicians would transfuse the patients against their will. 67% would refrain from giving anaesthesia to a member of Jehovah's Witnesses who was scheduled for elective surgery where major blood loss was to be expected. Only seven hospitals stated that guidelines for dealing with this kind of situation were available.