Religion
|
Prohibited Animal or Material
|
Jewish
|
pig
|
Hindu
|
cow
|
Muslim
|
pig
|
Jehovah's Witness
|
blood (any)
|
Surgical products derived from animal tissue include:
(1) ligatures
(2) prosthetic heart valves
(3) hemostatic materials
(4) orthopedic fillers
Factors impacting the use of the material:
(1) How devout are the patient and the family?
(2) Was a cleric of the religion contacted prior to the surgery?
(3) Does the religion prohibit any and all contact with the animal, or are certain exemptions allowed?
(4) Was the patient's condition critical? (The product had to be used or the patient would have died.)
(5) Is an alternative product available not made from the prohibited animal?
Consequences of implanting a prohibited material into a patient:
(1) severe emotional distress for the patient
(2) rejection by other members of the patient's religion
(3) resurgery to remove the material
(4) litigation against the surgeon