Abstract

GUZMAN TORO, Fernando. Ethical and Legal Dilemmas related to Blood Transfusions in Limit Situations. Frónesis [online]. 2010, vol.17, n.2, pp.185-200. ISSN 1315-6268.

This paper discusses the ethical, medical and legal dilemmas that arise when a patient decides not to accept blood transfusions for religious and personal reasons. In limit situations, that is, when there is a narrow border between life and death, a transfusion can mean the difference between surviving and dying. The study reflects on the ethical, legal and jurisprudential implications in Venezuela for patients who, for personal or religious reasons, do not accept blood transfusions in situations when the possibility of death is high if the patient is not transfused.

Keywords : Dilemmas; ethics; legal; transfusion.