Religious-related concerns and animal-derived medications during anesthetic care

  • Hannah Datz

Abstract

Peoples following some religions might have some specific beliefs regarding the consumption and utilization of animal-derived products, and their beliefs might have the potential to affect medical care.  Literature regarding the use of porcine and bovine-derived medications and medical devices for patients who practice Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism is limited. Consideration and knowledge of these issues is necessary to facilitate successful communication with a diverse patient population and respect her religious convictions.

We present a report of a 20-year-old patient of the Islamic faith who required anticoagulation following a lower extremity orthopedic procedure.  The family and patient requested no porcine-derived medications, thereby precluding the use of subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin.  Issues surrounding religious concerns regarding animal-derived medications and healthcare products are reviewed and options for effective care in such circumstances outlined.

Author Biography

Hannah Datz

Hannah Datz, MD1, Ahsan Syed, MD2,3, Mohammad Alsuhebani, MD2,
Dmitry Tumin, PhD2,4, Joseph D. Tobias, MD2,3,4

1Marshall University School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia
2Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
3Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio
4Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio

Correspondence: Dmitry Tumin, PhD, Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine

Nationwide Children’s Hospital
700 Children’s Drive
Columbus, Ohio 43205
Phone: (614) 722-4200
FAX: (614) 722-4203
E-mail: Dmitry.Tumin@Nationwidechildrens.org

Published
05-07-2019
How to Cite
Datz, H. (2019). Religious-related concerns and animal-derived medications during anesthetic care. Anaesthesia, Pain & Intensive Care, 22(2). Retrieved from https://apicareonline.com/index.php/APIC/article/view/598
Section
Case Reports