Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 10, 1993 TAG: 9307120244
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Rather than speculate that Jehovah's Witnesses, in refusing blood transfusions, may have killed more people than did David Koresh or Jim Jones, there is certainty in the truth that Jehovah's Witnesses, in taking a firm stand against gratuitous blood-transfer therapy, have been instrumental in extending many lives that might have been lost by the inadvertent infusion of contaminated blood that could, and did, lead to HIV infection and, as often as not, fatal hepatitis in its various forms.
One might mention other areas of concern, such as abortion, where disregard for human life is not advocated by them. But to pursue the matter of blood transfusions a bit further, read "New blood transfusion rules sought" that appeared on page A2 in the same issue of the Roanoke Times & World-News containing Markwell's letter.
In submitting to the wishes of a proportionate number of more than 4.5 million Jehovah's Witnesses, many doctors, motivated by their respect for the deeply held religious convictions of others, have refined the art of bloodless surgery to the point where they can not only deal very successfully with their "open-heart" Witness patients, but are able to provide enhanced surgical benefits to the public in general.
Rancor, such as Markwell's, may be based on a lack of accurate information. Certainly, as it relates to the matter of brainwashing, having one's mind laundered to rid it of misinformation is not a bad thing. WILLIAM R. NEILSON ROCKY MOUNT
by CNB