RESUMO
The management of patients, such as Jehovah's Witnesses, who refuse to receive blood transfusions, is often a medical challenge, not only because of the ethical dilemma, but also because it creates a major obstacle to rapid hemorrhage control in a setting of trauma. This article explores the reasons for this conflict between the physician's duty of care and the respect for the patient's autonomy, and draws a panorama of the main understandings of the Judiciary on the subject. Finally, it is concluded that the manifestation of the patient's will, although free, is not enough to release the doctor from his (her) duty of care. In case of danger to life, the doctor must carry out a blood transfusion, regardless of the patient's consent or the permission of those responsible for the patient.
O manejo de pacientes que se recusam a receber transfusões de sangue e de seus produtos, como as Testemunhas de Jeová, apresenta-se frequentemente como desafio médico, não só pelo dilema ético, mas porque cria um importante obstáculo ao rápido controle de hemorragias num cenário de trauma. Este artigo explora as razões deste conflito entre o dever de cuidado do médico e o respeito à autonomia do paciente, e desenha um panorama dos entendimentos majoritários do Judiciário sobre o tema. Por fim, conclui-se que a manifestação de vontade do paciente, embora livre, não é suficiente para afastar o médico do seu dever de cuidado. Constatando perigo à vida, o médico deverá proceder a transfusão de sangue, independentemente de consentimento do paciente ou de seus responsáveis.
Assuntos
Transfusão de Sangue/ética , Hemorragia/terapia , Testemunhas de Jeová , Traumatismo Múltiplo/terapia , Autonomia Pessoal , Papel do Médico , Ética Médica , Humanos , Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido/legislação & jurisprudência , Defesa do Paciente/legislação & jurisprudênciaRESUMO
The law N° 20.584 established the informed consent. This could suggest that patients have a right to refuse a blood transfusion. However, the dominant jurisprudence in protection claims filed against Jehovah Witnesses who rejected a blood transfusion, reveals that they do not have such a right. There were two exceptions in 2008, where courts acknowledged the patient's autonomy and denied the petition to authorize a blood transfusion. Most cases precede law N° 20.584. However, those cases which were upheld by the courts after the promulgation of the law, although few, follow exactly the same doctrine as before the appearance of this act.
Assuntos
Transfusão de Sangue/legislação & jurisprudência , Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido/legislação & jurisprudência , Testemunhas de Jeová , Religião e Medicina , Recusa do Paciente ao Tratamento/legislação & jurisprudência , Transfusão de Sangue/ética , Chile , HumanosRESUMO
The law N° 20.584 established the informed consent. This could suggest that patients have a right to refuse a blood transfusion. However, the dominant jurisprudence in protection claims filed against Jehovah Witnesses who rejected a blood transfusion, reveals that they do not have such a right. There were two exceptions in 2008, where courts acknowledged the patient's autonomy and denied the petition to authorize a blood transfusion. Most cases precede law N° 20.584. However, those cases which were upheld by the courts after the promulgation of the law, although few, follow exactly the same doctrine as before the appearance of this act.
Assuntos
Humanos , Religião e Medicina , Transfusão de Sangue/legislação & jurisprudência , Recusa do Paciente ao Tratamento/legislação & jurisprudência , Testemunhas de Jeová , Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido/legislação & jurisprudência , Transfusão de Sangue/ética , ChileRESUMO
RESUMO O manejo de pacientes que se recusam a receber transfusões de sangue e de seus produtos, como as Testemunhas de Jeová, apresenta-se frequentemente como desafio médico, não só pelo dilema ético, mas porque cria um importante obstáculo ao rápido controle de hemorragias num cenário de trauma. Este artigo explora as razões deste conflito entre o dever de cuidado do médico e o respeito à autonomia do paciente, e desenha um panorama dos entendimentos majoritários do Judiciário sobre o tema. Por fim, conclui-se que a manifestação de vontade do paciente, embora livre, não é suficiente para afastar o médico do seu dever de cuidado. Constatando perigo à vida, o médico deverá proceder a transfusão de sangue, independentemente de consentimento do paciente ou de seus responsáveis.
ABSTRACT The management of patients, such as Jehovah's Witnesses, who refuse to receive blood transfusions, is often a medical challenge, not only because of the ethical dilemma, but also because it creates a major obstacle to rapid hemorrhage control in a setting of trauma. This article explores the reasons for this conflict between the physician's duty of care and the respect for the patient's autonomy, and draws a panorama of the main understandings of the Judiciary on the subject. Finally, it is concluded that the manifestation of the patient's will, although free, is not enough to release the doctor from his (her) duty of care. In case of danger to life, the doctor must carry out a blood transfusion, regardless of the patient's consent or the permission of those responsible for the patient.
Assuntos
Humanos , Papel do Médico , Transfusão de Sangue/ética , Traumatismo Múltiplo/terapia , Autonomia Pessoal , Testemunhas de Jeová , Hemorragia/terapia , Defesa do Paciente/legislação & jurisprudência , Ética Médica , Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido/legislação & jurisprudênciaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Jehovah's Witness refuse blood transfusion, but they accept organ transplantation, albumin, immunoglobulin, vaccines and clotting factors. CLINICAL CASES: We present 3 kidney transplants in Jehovah's Witness patients (two male and one female) without blood transfusion, with a mean age of 31.33 years and a mean body mass index of 20.99 kg/m(2). All patients underwent pretransplant peritoneal dialysis for an average of 52.3 months. Two transplants came from living donors and one from a deceased donor with a cold ischemia of 23 hours. The donors were two females and one male, with a mean age of 34.33 years. All patients received pretransplant erythropoietin and iron dextran and an intraoperative cell saver was used. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cells and serum creatinine levels, as well as the glomerular filtration at 24 months postransplant were stable. All patients received induction with basiliximab and initial immunosuppression with calcineurin inhibitors. One of the patients had a perirenal hematoma as a complication, which required a surgery 20 days post-transplant. At 5, 26 and 36 months postransplant the three patients are alive and with functional grafts. CONCLUSION: It is possible to perform kidney transplantation without transfusion in Jehovah's Witness, obtaining an acceptable global survival without acute rejection.
Antecedentes: los Testigos de Jehová rechazan la transfusión sanguínea, pero aceptan el trasplante de órganos, albúmina, inmunoglobulina, vacunas y factores de coagulación. Casos clínicos: comunicamos tres casos de pacientes (dos masculinos y uno femenino) a quienes se realizó trasplante renal en Testigos de Jehová sin transfusión sanguínea, con edad promedio de 31.33 años e índice de masa corporal promedio de 20.99 kg/m2. Los tres pacientes recibieron diálisis peritoneal pre trasplante por un promedio de 52.3 meses. Se realizaron dos trasplantes de donante vivo y uno de fallecido, con isquemia fría de 23 horas. Los donantes fueron dos femeninos y uno masculino, con edad promedio de 34.33 años. Los tres pacientes recibieron eritropoyetina y hierro dextrán pretrasplante y en el transoperatorio se utilizó una máquina de recuperación celular. Las concentraciones de hemoglobina, hematócrito, glóbulos rojos, creatinina sérica y filtración glomerular a 24 meses postrasplante permanecieron estables. La inducción se realizó con basiliximab y la inmunosupresión inicial con inhibidores de calcineurina. Uno de los pacientes tuvo como complicación un hematoma perirrenal que ameritó reintervención a los 20 días postrasplante. A 5, 26 y 36 meses postrasplante los tres pacientes están vivos y con injerto funcional. Conclusión: es posible realizar trasplantes renales sin transfusión sanguínea en Testigos de Jehová, con supervivencia global aceptable y sin episodios de rechazo agudo.
Assuntos
Testemunhas de Jeová , Transplante de Rim/métodos , Recuperação de Sangue Operatório/métodos , Adulto , Anemia/prevenção & controle , Anticorpos Monoclonais/uso terapêutico , Basiliximab , Transfusão de Sangue/ética , Transfusão de Sangue/psicologia , Eritropoetina/uso terapêutico , Feminino , Glomerulonefrite/cirurgia , Hematínicos/uso terapêutico , Testes Hematológicos , Hematoma/etiologia , Hematoma/cirurgia , Humanos , Complexo Ferro-Dextran/uso terapêutico , Testemunhas de Jeová/psicologia , Rim/irrigação sanguínea , Testes de Função Renal , Masculino , México , Recuperação de Sangue Operatório/instrumentação , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/prevenção & controle , Hemorragia Pós-Operatória/etiologia , Hemorragia Pós-Operatória/cirurgia , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/uso terapêutico , Resultado do Tratamento , Recusa do Paciente ao Tratamento , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Objetivo: Aplicar un círculo de mejora a la petición de consentimiento informado (CI) para la transfusión de hemoderivados en los servicios de Cirugía General y Urología. Métodos: Durante 8 meses se incluyeron 120 pa¡cientes intervenidos en el Hospital General Reina Sofía de Murcia. Tras realizar un análisis de causa-efecto de Ishikawa, se establecieron 4 criterios: C1: identifica¡ción del médico; C2: identificación del paciente; C3: firma del paciente; C4: fecha del documento. En el pri¡mer periodo se incluyeron 60 pacientes. Se analizaron Ias causas de incumplimiento y se aplicaron las medidas correctoras, reevaluando los criterios en otros 60 pacientes. Resultados: Todos los criterios estaban por debajo del estándar: C1: 3%; C2: 95%; C3: 16% y C4: 65%. En la segunda evaluación el cumplimiento de C1 (70%), C3 (98%) y C4 (88%) mejoró significativamente pero aún así los resultados continúan, también significativamente, por debajo de los estándares establecidos. Los resultados se expresan en porcentaje de cumplimiento con un intervalo de confianza del 95%. Conclusiones: La realización de un ciclo de mejora ha permitido detectar y corregir incumplimientos en el C1 de transfusiones sanguíneas. El nivel de cumplimiento de los criterios mejoró en la segunda evaluación aunque continuamos por debajo del estándar establecido. Hemos conseguido una mayor concienciación por parte de los profesionales a la hora de cumplimentar el consentimiento. (AU)
Objective: To analyze the degree of compliance with a variety of standards defined for the quality control of the informed consent request for human blood products transfusion in our departments of Surgery and Urology. Material and method: Retrospective study of patients treated during 8 consecutive months in a university teaching hospital (n=120). Assessment of quality was performed through measurements of compliance using 4 criteria: C1, Physician Identification; C2, patient identification; C3, patient signature; C4, document date. In the first period 60 patients were included. Corrective measures aimed at resolving the quality problem were applied to the deficient criteria during one month, paying particular attention to those criteria with the highest percentage of errors in the study. During a third period of six months (60 patients) the information of all criteria was gathered again and the improvement with regard to the standard values and to the compliance of the first period was evaluated. Results: Compliance of all criteria was significantly below standard values in the first evaluation: C1 :3%; C2: 95%; C3: 16% and C4: 65%. In the second period all the criteria below its standard improved with regard to the first period; nonetheless the results are, also significantly, below the established standards. Conclusions: This improvement cycle enabled us to detect and correct breaches on the informed consent request for human blood products transfusion. Corrective measures introduced were effective since it was improved in all the criteria below standard. We have achieved a good awareness of health professionals to complete the authorization. (AU)
Assuntos
Humanos , Transfusão de Sangue/ética , Transfusão de Sangue/normas , Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido , Hospitais Universitários , Perda Sanguínea Cirúrgica , Centro Cirúrgico Hospitalar , Unidade Hospitalar de Urologia , Hemoderivados , Qualidade da Assistência à Saúde/normas , Qualidade da Assistência à Saúde/tendências , EspanhaRESUMO
Objetivo: Aplicar un círculo de mejora a la petición de consentimiento informado (CI) para la transfusión de hemoderivados en los servicios de Cirugía General y Urología. Métodos: Durante 8 meses se incluyeron 120 pacientes intervenidos en el Hospital General Reina Sofía de Murcia. Tras realizar un análisis de causa-efecto de Ishikawa, se establecieron 4 criterios: C1: identificación del médico; C2: identificación del paciente; C3: firma del paciente; C4: fecha del documento. En el primer periodo se incluyeron 60 pacientes. Se analizaron Ias causas de incumplimiento y se aplicaron las medidas correctoras, reevaluando los criterios en otros 60 pacientes. Resultados: Todos los criterios estaban por debajo del estándar: C1: 3%; C2: 95%; C3: 16% y C4: 65%. En la segunda evaluación el cumplimiento de C1 (70%), C3 (98%) y C4 (88%) mejoró significativamente pero aún así los resultados continúan, también significativamente, por debajo de los estándares establecidos. Los resultados se expresan en porcentaje de cumplimiento con un intervalo de confianza del 95%. Conclusiones: La realización de un ciclo de mejora ha permitido detectar y corregir incumplimientos en el C1 de transfusiones sanguíneas. El nivel de cumplimiento de los criterios mejoró en la segunda evaluación aunque continuamos por debajo del estándar establecido. Hemos conseguido una mayor concienciación por parte de los profesionales a la hora de cumplimentar el consentimiento.
Objective: To analyze the degree of compliance with a variety of standards defined for the quality control of the informed consent request for human blood products transfusion in our departments of Surgery and Urology. Material and method: Retrospective study of patients treated during 8 consecutive months in a university teaching hospital (n=120). Assessment of quality was performed through measurements of compliance using 4 criteria: C1, Physician Identification; C2, patient identification; C3, patient signature; C4, document date. In the first period 60 patients were included. Corrective measures aimed at resolving the quality problem were applied to the deficient criteria during one month, paying particular attention to those criteria with the highest percentage of errors in the study. During a third period of six months (60 patients) the information of all criteria was gathered again and the improvement with regard to the standard values and to the compliance of the first period was evaluated. Results: Compliance of all criteria was significantly below standard values in the first evaluation: C1 :3%; C2: 95%; C3: 16% and C4: 65%. In the second period all the criteria below its standard improved with regard to the first period; nonetheless the results are, also significantly, below the established standards. Conclusions: This improvement cycle enabled us to detect and correct breaches on the informed consent request for human blood products transfusion. Corrective measures introduced were effective since it was improved in all the criteria below standard. We have achieved a good awareness of health professionals to complete the authorization.
Assuntos
Humanos , Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido , Hospitais Universitários , Transfusão de Sangue/normas , Transfusão de Sangue/ética , Qualidade da Assistência à Saúde/normas , Qualidade da Assistência à Saúde/tendências , Espanha , Hemoderivados , Perda Sanguínea Cirúrgica , Centro Cirúrgico Hospitalar , Unidade Hospitalar de UrologiaRESUMO
El creciente nexo entre ética-ciencia-tecnología-calidad-sociedad, sobre todo en las cuatro últimas décadas, ha tenido gran implicancia en medicina transfusional. En el presente trabajo se analiza la relación de los aspectos éticos, bioéticos y de calidad entre tales instancias, y su aplicación en el campo de la medicina transfusional, como una consecuencia necesaria de los principios que influyen en la vida física, psicológica y espiritual de las personas...
The increasing link among ethics-science-technology-quality-society, especially in the last four decades, has had great implications in transfusion medicine. In present study, relations among ethics, bioethics and quality aspects and their application in the field of transfusion medicine are analyzed, as a necessary consequence of principles that influence physical, psychological and spiritual lives of persons...
O crescente nexo entre ética-ciência-tecnologia-qualidade-sociedade, sobretudo nas quatro últimas décadas, tem tido grande implicação na medicina transfusional. No presente trabalho se analisa a relação dos aspectos éticos, bioéticos e de qualidade entre tais instâncias e sua aplicação no campo da medicina transfusional, como uma consequência necessária dos princípios que influem na vida física, psicológica e espiritual das pessoas...
Assuntos
Humanos , Bioética , Segurança do Sangue , Qualidade da Assistência à Saúde , Transfusão de Sangue/ética , Controle de QualidadeRESUMO
El enfrentamiento de pacientes que rechazan la transfusión de hemoderivados, principalmente por motivos religiosos, continúa siendo un problema no resuelto. En el análisis de este conflicto convergen los conceptos de la bioética, destacando el respeto por la autonomía del paciente por un lado y la beneficencia, al cual estamos acostumbrados los médicos, por otro, lo que lleva a la enfrentamiento natural que se produce al tratar de prevalecer un concepto sobre el otro. El consentimiento informado constituye un elemento fundamental en el enfoque adecuado de este tema, pues nos permite desarrollar una mejor medicina en nuestras instituciones, manteniendo el respeto por el deseo del paciente. Existen numerosos ejemplos a nivel nacional e internacional, que sientan jurisprudencia en el caso de los pacientes Testigos de Jehová, los cuales debemos considerar, ya que la tendencia de los tribunales es respetar la voluntad de los pacientes más aun tratándose de decisiones autónomas y que no afectan al resto de la sociedad. El desarrollo institucional de programas terapéuticos, particularmente en la esfera quirúrgica, sin transfusión de hemoderivados, es una buena línea de desarrollo hacia una mejor calidad de Medicina Transfusional, respetando la autonomía de los pacientes.
Transfusion refusal of hemocomponents and/or hemoderivatives has become increasingly an important challenge in clinical settings, difficult to deal with. This procedure involves several bioethical and moral conflicts. Among them, the patient`s wish not to be transfused, the right to self-determination, the risk of a fatal outcome and, on the other hand, medical concerns, legal issues involved,the good clinical practice and the duty to attempt a cure. These considerations are not always easy to solve. Issues such as the latter one explain why Informed Consent (IC) is a crucial tool that allows a rational use of transfusional therapies and a better implementation of blood-saving techniques. Many clinical cases (mainly Jehovah`s witnesses patients) have set the basis of international jurisprudence. The current tendency is to respect the patient`s will, especially adults that have been fully advised of the consequences of not receiving tranfusional therapy.
Assuntos
Humanos , Bioética , Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido/ética , Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido/legislação & jurisprudência , Testemunhas de Jeová , Recusa do Paciente ao Tratamento/ética , Recusa do Paciente ao Tratamento/legislação & jurisprudência , Transfusão de Sangue/ética , Pacientes Desistentes do Tratamento/legislação & jurisprudênciaRESUMO
Este estudio evalúa hasta qué grado el cuerpo médico del Hospital Dr. Darío Contreras de República Dominicana conoce, respeta, informa y aplica la Ley General de Salud, con relación al derecho del paciente Testigo de Jehová de negarse a ser transfundido (respeto a su autonomía). También si los Testigos de Jehová conocen la Ley General de Salud y hasta qué grado se han beneficiado con la puesta en marcha de la misma. El estudio reveló que ni médicos ni Testigos de Jehová conocen suficientemente dicha ley.
This study evaluates up to which degree physicians of Hospital Dr. Dario Contreras of Dominican Republic know, respect, inform and apply the General Health Law in relation to the right of Jehovah witness patients to refuse being blood transfused (respect to their autonomy). It also evaluates whether Jehovah witnesses know General Health Law and in which degree they have been benefited by putting it into practice. The study reveals that Jehovah Witnesses do not know the law.
Este estudo avalia quanto o corpo médico do Hospital Dr. Darío Contreras de República Dominicana conhece, respeita, informa e aplica a Lei Geral de Saúde em relação aos direitos do paciente Testemunha de Jeová de negar-se a ser transfundido (respeito a sua autonomia); também se os Testemunhas de Jeová conhecem a Lei Geral de Saúde e até que ponto têm se beneficiado diante dessa proposição. O estudo revelou que nem médicos, nem Testemunhas de Jeová conhecem de fato essa lei.
Assuntos
Humanos , Bioética , Legislação como Assunto , Testemunhas de Jeová , Autonomia Pessoal , Transfusão de Sangue/éticaRESUMO
The respect for self-determination has represented a great challenge for the medical community. This debate has resulted in laws, codes of ethics, international treaties, and administrative guidelines, all with the purpose of protecting such right. In the medical field, the "Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with Regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine: Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine", known as the Oviedo Convention plays a crucial role. The doctrine of Informed Consent (IC) exists to enforce it. This principle is considered as law in some countries. In Chile, the IC is considered in the legal ordinance and in documents that are used as guidelines in the field of ethics. Jehovah s Witnesses invoke such precepts when they demand respect for their decisions. The present article outlines their position regarding blood transfusions and their contribution to the practice of bloodless medicine and surgery, which promotes the respect for patient's self determination. The experience of Jehovah's Witnesses has lead to a dignified treatment of the patient and has promoted a better participation in decision-making, focusing on the patient. All these benefits can be conveyed to other patients, resulting in the protection of the dignity of the individual.