002 - Ethics: Surrogacy, Religious Beliefs, and Medical Treatment

Ethical and legal considerations surrounding a comatose Jehovah's Witness patient's need for a life-saving blood transfusion are debated. The patient's parents, also Jehovah's Witnesses, refuse consent, while her brother advocates for the transfusion, claiming she wasn't a practicing member. The case highlights the conflict between parental surrogacy rights, the patient's autonomy, and the physician's responsibility to provide beneficial care. Multiple perspectives—medical, nursing, social work, legal, and ethical—are offered, emphasizing the importance of understanding the patient's wishes and the limitations of surrogacy decisions based on the surrogate's beliefs. The lack of advance directives and the resulting ethical dilemma are also discussed.