Análise bioético-legal do conhecimento e da conduta de médicos: hemotransfusão em pacientes Testemunhas de Jeová

Abstract

The doctor-patient relationship has suffered great changes over time, one of the factors that led to such change was the Nuremberg Trials, in which human dignity and autonomy were greatly emphasized. However, there are situations in which doctors are faced with a dilemma: either to perform a procedure that they consider necessary and ignore the patient's refusal, or to stop performing the procedure in respect to the patient's decision, a decision taken in an informed manner and by a civilly capable agent, taking into account the legal bioethical factor. Listing the knowledge and ability of doctors to make use of alternatives to hemotransfusion, made available due to scientific advances. With this in mind, the study aims to analyze the relevant norms and identify the reasons that lead physicians to make decisions in the face of the dilemma posed above, specifically in relation to whole blood transfusions in Jehovah's Witnesses patients. For that, bibliographical research in specialized literature, documental research in internal legislation and relevant jurisprudence as well as International Treaties were used, and the semi-structured interview instrument was applied to the doctors of the Hospital de Clínicas of the Federal University of Uberlândia (HC/UFU) and to surgeons who work in the private healthcare system in the city of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais.