lillLOS ANGELES (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Most people will try anything to
reverse a devastating diagnosis, but what happens when modern medicine clashes
with strongly held religious beliefs? One doctor is looking for a solution to
help those who would rather die than go against their faith.
Jehovah's Witnesses John and Leina Lapez turn to their faith when life gets
tough. John has multiple myeloma, cancer of the plasma cells. He needed blood
transfusions and a stem cell transplant to survive. The problem -- it goes
against his religious beliefs.
"We don't take blood in any way, shape or form," John told Ivanhoe.
"I've had a lot of pressure the past year with, 'What is the big deal? It's his
life,'" Leina said.
The couple turned to Michael Lill, M.D., a self-described atheist who helped
develop the bloodless transplant.
"It has almost made it somewhat easier by being an atheist and not having
strongly held religious beliefs, being able to look at it from the outside," Dr.
Lill, director of the blood and marrow transplant program at the Samuel Oschin
Comprehensive Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles,
Calif., told Ivanhoe.
Before the transplant, the patient takes hormones to stimulate red blood cell
growth. The goal -- get the red cell count high enough so blood isn't needed
during the transplant. Dr. Lill promises not to give the patients blood, even in
an emergency. It worked for 25 people. One has died during treatment.
"We believe patients are putting themselves at a somewhat increased risk by not
having blood transfusions," Dr. Lill said. "I very much respect adult
individual's rights to make choices for themselves even if it is not in what I
perceive to be their own best interest."
Dr. Lill hopes the procedure prompts doctors to find new ways to conserve blood
for all patients.
"I think it's probably beneficial for people to lose as little blood as possible
during their hospital stay," he said.
John is weak, but so far, he's one of the successes.
"It makes me feel better knowing that he respects us all the way to the very
end," wife Leina said. "If something should happen, he will [do] whatever you
want to do.
The Lapez's say taking the risk was better than their only other option -- doing
nothing at all.
lillThe biggest risk for the bloodless transplant is bleeding in the brain. Dr.
Lill and his team make other adjustments to conserve blood. They draw less blood
by using pediatric tubes instead of adult tubes. They also draw blood from a
patient's arm instead of a central line. That conserves a tablespoon of blood
every time.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Simi Singer
Public Relations
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, CA
Public Relations: (310) 423-7798
