Letter to All congregations, 1995-01-03: Hospital Liaison Committees HLC

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WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, INC.

HOSPITAL INFORMATION SERVICES 25 COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK 11201-2483, U.S.A.

PHONE (718) 625-3600

January 3,1995

TO ALL CONGREGATIONS

Dear Brothers:

Jehovah has richly blessed the efforts of his people to improve their relationship with the medical and legal communities. As a result, it is now much easier to get respectful, capable medical treatment. This has greatly relieved the anxieties that used to accompany our endeavors to maintain Christian integrity and 'abstain from blood.' This accomplishment is in many respects due to the work of our congregation elders and the elders on the Hospital Liaison Committees (HLCs). They have indeed been for us "like a hiding place from the wind and . . . like the shadow of a heavy crag in an exhausted land."—Acts 15:28, 29; Isa. 32:1, 2.

We now have 118 HLCs in the major cities here in the United States, and over 700 elders serve on these committees. More than 1,000 HLCs are functioning around the world, with the program now in operation in all 100 branches of the Society. This means that our brothers in 232 lands all have access to this arrangement. Our computerized listing of cooperative doctors shows more than 19,000 in the United States. The worldwide listing from all the branches reports more than 50,000 doctors working with us. Much of this progress is due to the fine presentations made by our HLCs to groups of doctors at leading hospitals all over the world. There are more than 40 hospitals in the United States and about 35 in other lands that now offer us a bloodless medicine and surgery program.

It seems appropriate, while sharing this good news with you, to remind you (1) of some vital things that you need to do when preparing to go to a hospital for health care, and (2) how you can, when you request their assistance, best cooperate with the HLCs and your local elders. Indeed, there are some things it is wise to do even before any such situation develops. A list of suggestions will now be read to you. It will later be posted on the information board, and you may make copies of it or ask the congregation secretary to make you a copy.

We hope the above information is of help to you as you show yourselves determined to uphold Jehovah's righteous law.

Your brothers,

Natchtower B.V. Society

OF NEW YORK, INC. Hospital Information Services