[KarlInOhio]

Any self-selection effects on the high end for the most complicated cases? For example, will a hospital do a simple procedure on anyone, but refuse to do a complex procedure on a JW because he isn't willing to accept donor blood?

[count-your-change]

Even the most complicated heart surgeries are being performed routinely without donor blood. Generally if the operation can be done at all it can be done without transfusion.

I know of no hospital that has refused treatment solely on the basis of the patients refusal to accept a blood transfusion.

If you google some of sites dealing with bloodless surgery you'll find it's far more common in very complicated cases then might be thought.