Jehovah's Witness Consent — ORE Part 1 MCQ

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HardBehavioural Sciences & EthicsJehovah's Witness ConsentORE Part 1

A competent adult dental patient who identifies as a Jehovah’s Witness requires surgical extraction of impacted lower third molars. Which is the key medical-legal consideration?

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Correct answer: E — Establish and document the patient’s specific wishes about blood products and respect a valid refusal

**A is correct.** A Jehovah’s Witness patient must be approached as an individual: establish capacity and discuss, document and honour their specific decisions about transfusion and blood-derived products. Refusal of blood may be highly material to consent even where anticipated blood loss is small; the operator should explain relevant risks, available haemostatic measures and any implications for treatment planning. A valid refusal must be respected. **B** wrongly assumes that the expected degree of bleeding removes the need for a material-risk discussion. **C** is false: Jehovah’s Witnesses can consent to oral surgery. **D** confuses valid informed consent documentation with an inappropriate liability waiver. **E** is false because anaesthetic choice is determined by clinical indication and patient preference, not religious affiliation.

Reference: Royal College of Surgeons of England. Caring for Patients who Refuse Blood: A Guide to Good Practice for the Surgical Management of Jehovah’s Witnesses and Other Patients Who Decline Transfusion. 2016. https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/standards-and-research/standards-and-guidance/good-practice-guides/patients-who-refuse-blood/