[Geriatric orthopedic treatment of Jehovah's Witnesses?].

The proceedings in elective surgery on "Jehova's Witnesses" differ from customary operations. Intensive physical therapy, high complaint, internal and anesthesiologic examination, exact information about the risks and facilities as "cell-saving" etc. and postoperative planing are necessarily required ahead of the indication to operate. Additional complications may be possible. The higher costs are balanced by avoiding, respectively getting rid of disability, immobilisation and the needing of care. A religious dogma leads to a special point of view towards life, death, health and expectations towards' the life and its quality as well as social support. It is a difficult undertaking in elective surgery to bring this dogma and our ethic and moral values into accord. It is not medicine vs. religion, but to point out a way and the limits by respecting the individual ideology, abstract conceptions and philosophy of life.