Cultural Approaches to Pediatric Palliative Care in Central Massachusetts: Jehovah's Witness

Beliefs

• No Holy Trinity. God is the Father, while Jesus Christ is His son, a separate person. The Holy Spirit is God’s motivating force.
• Do not participate in nationalistic ceremonies (e.g. saluting the flag), and to not give gifts at holidays or celebrate traditional Christian days.
• Believe that after world is restored to state of paradise; beneficiaries of Christ will be resurrected with healthy, perfected physical bodies, and will inhabit the earth.

Daily practices

• Prayer and reading of Scriptures

Dying and death

• Death is a state of total unconsciousness
• Euthanasia forbidden
• Autopsy acceptable if legally required
• Donation of body or organs is a personal choice

Facilitating practices

• Be sensitive to strong religious beliefs opposing use of blood or blood products
• Encourage patient or family to consult with congregational elders or to contact the local Hospital Liaison Committee for assistance.

Food

• Avoid food that contains blood

Health

• Likely to be strongly opposed to blood transfusion
• Medications from blood products may not be acceptable
• Use of extraordinary means to prolong life or right to die is individual choice

Holy days and festivals

• Meetings are held 3 times a week in local Kingdom Halls with focus on education
• Weekly meetings in homes
• Most important meeting of the year is a congregational celebration of the memorial of Christ’s sacrificial death

Pregnancy and birth

• Abortion and artificial insemination by a donor are forbidden
• Birth control is an individual choice
• No infant baptism

Rituals or ceremonies

• Adult baptism
• No special rituals for sick or dying

Spiritual instruments, structure, and symbols

• None