Bloodless Medicine

Some people think bloodless medicine is a subject only Jehovah’s Witnesses – known for their refusal of blood transfusions on religious grounds – are interested in. As it turns out, a feature length film has what one reviewer called a “mind-numbing” 110 minutes of medical evidence and interviews with doctors and other medical professionals who are against the practice of transfusing blood. An excerpt of the film is below.

On a related note, the following is from an MCG press release: The Georgia Health Sciences Medical Center Bloodless Medicine and Surgery Program will host a free community seminar Oct. 20 highlighting techniques enabling medical and surgical treatment without blood transfusions.

The seminar, themed “Bloodless Medicine and Patient Blood Management,” is free and will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the GHSU Alumni Center, 919 15th Street. The public is invited and light refreshments will be served.

The seminar will educate participants about GHSU’s Bloodless Medicine and Surgery Program, a service offering transfusion-free treatment during medical and surgical procedures. The state-of-the-art technology, including medications to increase the number of red blood cells, can safely be used in disciplines including hematology, oncology, cardiology, gynecology and neurosurgery, among others.

The seminar will include cell saver demonstrations, with speakers focusing on patient blood management and cardiothoracic surgery. Physician speakers will include, Dr. Vinayak Kamath, Director of Cardiovascular Services, Dr. Colville Ferdinand, Medical Director of the Bloodless Medicine Program, and Dr. Mary Arthur, Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery.