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?

«... make sure your children carry this document with them AT ALL times. Check it every day before they go to school, and even when they go for a walk to the playground or park. We should all check that we have a document with us when we are at work, on vacation, or at a Christian convention. Always carry the document with you!"

[3] provides detailed recommendations on how to fill out these documents correctly. The finished text is already typed into them, only a few points remain to be filled.

Recommendations for the medical document:

"The Medical Order/Disclaimer text provides information for health care professionals. For example, it names certain liquids that in many cases can be used as substitutes for blood.114 The card exempts doctors and hospital staff from liability115 for not using blood in the case of other possible methods.

Three blank spaces are left in the text. Filling them out will show that the cardholder who signed it understands the essence of the document. The completed information will also suggest that the owner made this decision consciously, and not spontaneously116. A "medical document" can also be issued to minor baptized persons. Although a layman may claim that the situation of a baptized minor is different from that of an adult, the presence of a card is indicative of the beliefs of the former and this can be of great importance in a court case.

NAME: On the first line, type or legibly write your full name. Then sign the "Signature" line and fill in the "Date" column.

OTHER BLANK SPACES: Left space on the left side of the text to indicate your age. After five lines, you should indicate the number of years during which you have been a baptized Witness. If this time is less than a year, indicate the number of months and cross out the word "Years".