1964 Awake! - Theocratic Collector.com

themselves, are doing fine several years
later. In one instance the blood hemoglobin
was down to six grams and the
hematocrit down to 19. Dextran was successfully
used.
Why, then, was a single pint of blood
given in Mrs. Anderson's case? Was it
really in the best interest$, of the patient,
or were those attending her arrogantly
flaunting their power in view of the publicity
given the case and also in view of
the fact that, if no transfusion were given,
their exaggerated statements woulc;l have
looked infantile? Was the single-pint transfusion
a medical measure or was it a publicity
measure for ego purposes? Really,
whose interests were served?
When this case came before the courts
there was no emergency, but just the
possibility that one might later arise! So
because something might arise are people's
Constitutional liberties to be jettisoned?
What to Do
If you are in a position of authority,
such as a judge, you must examine your
conscience to see that you are giving others
what God gives them, what the law
gives them-the right of choice.
If you are a doctor, you must do likewise.
Do you refuse to treat a patient
because he does not accept your primary
recommendation in an emergency situation?
If you do, are you really interested
in the practice of medicine for the benefit
you bring the patient who desperately
needs your help, or are you only interested
in your reputation, your professional
pride? It would be inconsistent for you to
say that you are so interested in a patient
that you want to give him a blood transfusion
in an emergency. but then refuse to
treat him at all just because be refuses
blood, especially when there is not time 1:0
get another doctor. If you are sincerely Interested
in your patient's welfare in an
emergency, you will, while perhaps expressing
disappointment at not being able
to use blood, agree to do everything else
in your power to help that person whose
life may be expiring. That would be a real
interest in humanity, acknowledging freedom
of choice in the process.
Yes, doctors are to be highly commended
for the good work they do to relieve
human suffering. But they must also appreciate
that they are not omniscient and
that others must retain the right of choice.
That will make for the best of doctorpatient
relationships.
To patients it is recommended that they
choose a doctor that will honor their views,
where that is at all possible. Talk to him
before an emergency arises, to be sure he
understands your position.
Fortunately there are many doctors who
will honor the convictions of the patient,
who will respect his freedom of choice,
who will respect the God-given and legal
rights of the patient. They will cooperate
and do everything in their power to help.
To such conscientious doctors we owe a
debt of gratitude. These are the ones that
patients will wisely seek out in advance for
medical attention.
VAST UNDERSEA CANYON
Did you know that the deepest places in the oceans are in the Marlanas Trench,
east of the Philippines, in the Pacific Ocean? This trench is twenty times the
size of the Grand Canyon, and the lowest part of the V bottom is more than a
mUe and a half deeper than Mount Everest is high. British sea surveyors, in
H.M.S. Cook, recently explored this tremendous underwater canyon with echosounding
equipment and hit bottom at 37,782 feet. In 1959 a Soviet ship exploI'im:
the area found a depth of 36,198 feet; thus the "Cook Depth" is 1,584 feet deeper.
8IJJP'l'lCMBER 8, 1964
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