Jehovah Witnesses


Jehovah’s Witness Travels Across World For Life-Saving Bloodless Heart Surgery

After being diagnosed with a rare, considered inoperable, tumor in the left ventricle of her heart and given only a few months to live, 26-year old Australian Madalyn Copcutt was not ready to give up on her life. Her tumor was considered inoperable because of her status as a Jehovah’s Witnesses and she would not be able to accept blood transfusions. The newlywed traveled over 11,000 miles to see expert cardiac surgeon, Dr. Giovanni Ciuffo at the Mercy Cardiovascular Institute (MCI) who is the Medical Director of Mercy’s Minimally Invasive and Bloodless Heart Surgery program. Even after all surgeons in Perth concluded that her surgery would not be possible, Dr. Ciuffo performed the bloodless heart surgery on October 31 at Mercy Medical Center and Madalyn was discharged on November 3, with all positive results indicating the tumor removal was successful. Read more about Madalyn’s surgery at the Mercy Medical Center in the Akron Beacon Journal and on Mercy’s own blog. Dr. Ciuffo’s Mission For Bloodless Surgery Dr. Ciuffo has stated that he’s “made it his mission to do bloodless surgery,” citing that his experience shows patients who do not take blood transfusions live longer and do better than traditional heart surgery patients. Dr. Ciuffo’s complex cardiothoracic experience ranges 15 years with operations for over 500 Jehovah’s Witnesses and hundreds of patients from all over the world. Contact Dr. Ciuffo For Bloodless Inquiries If you are a Jehovah’s Witnesses looking for bloodless surgery, or anyone with an interest in the minimally invasive and bloodless techniques Dr. Ciuffo employs, please call his office (330) 363-1341 at or contact him...

Bloodless Heart Surgery For Jehovah Witnesses

Dr. Ciuffo has always been interested in the development and enhancement of the best, low-impact, minimally invasive heart surgery techniques available so that I can offer all of my patients the best options. As bloodless heart surgery techniques become more widely accepted it is an important aspect of the care of all cardiovascular patients. Dr. Ciuffo began employing these techniques in the late 90′s to comply with the religious beliefs of the Jehovah Witness congregations. The science behind bloodless heart surgery has made impressive progress over the last decade and it is now possible to offer this option routinely in the vast majority of our patients. Jehovah Witnesses cannot take blood transfusions due to their religious beliefs, but now more people are seeing the importance of reducing the need for blood transfusions for other health reasons. Learn more about the specific techniques on our main bloodless heart surgery page. Reasons For Bloodless Heart Surgery Religious Beliefs (such as Jehovah Witnesses) Eliminate The Risk Of Infection Avoid Allergic Reactions Faster Recovery Time Keep Immune System Strong A Note From Dr. Ciuffo About Bloodless Heart Surgery For Jehovah Witnesses “Witnesses embrace and are comfortable with all aspects of modern medicine but their refusal to receive a blood transfusion is not negotiable. Unfortunately, many physicians cannot offer proper care because they have a hard time understanding and respecting these beliefs. Sometimes a finer distinction is made between refusing Packed Red Blood Cells and accepting some of the other blood fractions (i.e.: Fresh Frozen Plasma, Platelets, Cryoprecipitate) on an individual basis, as a matter of personal conscience. The aversion to receiving blood transfusions stems from the interpretation of a specific passage in the Bible that states...

Bloodless Hospital For Jehovah Witnesses

Dr. Ciuffo and the Aultman Heart Surgery Center respect all religious beliefs all over the world and understand that sometimes life-saving surgery can conflict with certain religious ideologies. Dr. Ciuffo specializes in minimally invasive heart surgery that can be adjusted to come to a bloodless procedure in line with the religious specifications of Jehovah Witnesses, whose Old and New Testaments commands Jehovah Witnesses do not accept blood. About Aultman Heart Surgery Center & Dr. Ciuffo The Aultman Heart Surgery Center specializes in all types of heart surgery, and Dr. Ciuffo joined them to provide minimally invasive, bloodless heart surgery techniques. These minimally invasive surgical techniques minimize the loss of blood during surgery which eliminates the need for blood transfusions, which is why Jehovah Witnesses are some of his most common patients. Bloodless Surgery For Jehovah Witnesses The minimally invasive and bloodless heart surgery is performed through a small incision on the side, and Dr. Ciuffo use of a combination of blood-saving techniques eliminates the need for transfusions, totally in line with Jehovah Witness beliefs. Many of Dr. Ciuffo’s patients are Jehovah Witnesses, read all the testimonials on his patient stories now. Bloodless heart surgery patient, Nancy K. states: “I wanted the best medical care available but as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses I also wanted No Blood.  I was aware of medical and surgical alternatives to blood transfusion such as the use of cell saver pumps and other medical treatments to boost my own hemoglobin level prior to surgery.  When Dr. Giovanni B. Ciuffo’s name was given to me by the Jehovah’s Witnesses Hospital Liaison Committee I was eager to interview him! Not only did he respect my patient’s...