If a patient is faced with a blood issue, the elders CAN do a lot to keep the situation calm, to have explanatory conversations with doctors and unbelieving relatives.

In rare cases, the situation requires round-the-clock duty.

The Hospital Liaison Committee should be called only when the patient needs a cooperative doctor, when confrontation develops, or when there is still a danger that the patient will be forced to bleed.

All elders should have a copy of the list containing the names and telephone numbers of the members of the committee. Keep it in an easily accessible folder, along with suitable reference materials, such as the Reader's Questions in the Watchtower, June 1, 1990, pages 30, 31, and August 1, 1989, pages 22, 23.

Committee members can help you: find doctors, hospitals, etc., who are willing to cooperate; have explanatory conversations with doctors about alternatives to blood.

We must be prudent in determining what help, if any, can be given for humanitarian reasons to persons who are not of good repute in the congregation.

For example, if a disfellowshipped person takes a firm stance on the issue of blood, local elders or the Hospital Liaison Committee could share the information with the family out of respect for faithful family members.

In large cities, some elders are given special assignments as members of the Visiting Collective to make regular visits to hospitals and to help Witness patients.

This activity does not relieve local elders of their responsibility to visit the sick at home and in the hospital."

Sad, but true. In case of illness of one of the members of the meeting, the first thing to do according to the above recommendation is to check the formal, bureaucratic side of the matter - are the papers drawn up correctly? Then "visit" the patient, "pray", "strengthen and console". What does this mean? This means that the visitor must repeat everything he knows almost by heart from the OSB publications on blood transfusions112 to the patient, who also knows it almost by heart, having studied it himself at the Society's study meetings113 and then, as a publisher, went and preached from house to house. If it is necessary (for example, the patient is unstable in matters of faith or doctors are very determined to use blood transfusion), it is necessary to organize a "round-the-clock watch" at the patient's bedside – what if the patient shows softness and agrees to a transfusion, or the doctors find a gap in the circular defense of Jehovah's Witnesses? If, after all, the preponderance of forces is not in favor of Jehovah's Witnesses, it is necessary to urgently call for help from the brothers from the local Committee for Relations with Hospitals, they will help, they are trained in this. And, of course, if it is decided to provide some help, you must be "prudent" in providing this help.

2. Have you already taken some important measures?

Jehovah's Witnesses and members of his family, first of all, are required to check the correctness of filling out medical documents in which his will regarding the transfusion of blood and its components is expressed. The document must always be with you.

"First of all, make sure that everyone in your family has completed their personal medical document"

"Does each of your unbaptized children have a completed ID card? If not, how do hospital staff know who to call and what your position is on blood if your child has an accident?