Cirugía y transfusión urgente en el paciente testigo de Jehová: revisión de las implicaciones médico-legales

Conflict between two ethical and legal conditions such as life and freedom is frequent in medical practice. Jurisdiction has handed down contradictory decisions and edicts when placing life (and therefore the lex artis of physicians) above Jehovah's witnesses' right to refuse blood transfusions. However, in principle, the right to life takes precedence over the patient's autonomy because, based on professional ethics, physicians have a duty to attempt a cure.Thus the patient's liberty is infringed, giving rise to interventions that may give rise to complaints and lawsuits. The present article provides an overview of each and every situation that could give rise to doubts, as well as an analysis of jurisdiction and the legal responsibilities involved in surgical decisions about Jehovah's witnesses.