Abstract

ABAD VILA, Miguel. Life for Ruth (1962) by Basil Dearden and The Children Act (2017) by Richard Eyre. Jehova's Witnesses and blood transfusions: two cinematographic visions of the same dilemma. Rev Med Cine [online]. 2021, vol.17, n.4, pp.263-274.  Epub May 30, 2022. ISSN 1885-5210.  https://dx.doi.org/10.14201/rmc2021174263274.

The rejection of blood transfusions by Jehova's Withnesses represents a classic example in the field of Bioethics and doctor-patients relationship, where the intentions and actions of doctors and health institutions collide, trying to safeguard the healthy of the patient with the necessary respect for his personal decisions regarding the therapeutic measures he mat need. Concepts such as proper information, confidentiality, freedom and the absence of any coercion are especially important.

In this regard, we present two cinematographic visions on the same dilemma: what to do when a Jehova's Witness refuses a blood transfusion, putting his own life in serious danger. The first of them is Life for Ruth (1962) by Basil Dearden, a film made just a couple of decades after the highest institutions of Jehova's Witnesess made the firm decision to reject these therapeutic measures. The second one, with the appropriate dogmatic calm, provided by The Children Act (2017) by Richard Eyre, in which a specialized judge in family matters must sentence with respect to some parents, Jehova's Witnesses, who deny a blood transfusion to their own minor and seriously ill child.

Keywords : blood transfusions; Jehova's Witnesses; bioethics.

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