KETTERING — Marvin Clark is one of more than 6,300 area Jehovah's Witnesses who Kettering Medical Center officials hope would consent to "bloodless" surgery, which will be offered starting Friday, Aug. 1.

"Sure I would," said Clark, a member of the South Miamisburg Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses.

KMC and KMC Sycamore planned to begin offering the surgery, which isn't literally bloodless, but does minimize blood loss, recovery time, the risk of complications and cost. Previously, the closest hospital offering the procedure was in Columbus.

"It's the closest anyone can come to bloodless surgery, and it is done without introducing blood from others, which is terribly important to many, many people," said Dr. Gary Anderson, in a news release.

For religious reasons, Jehovah's Witnesses decline transfusions, and therefore, surgery that requires them to take someone else's blood. Clark said the move was "largely a result of a worldwide effort on behalf of Jehovah's Witnesses."

Hospital officials said the program also was designed to calm the fears of any surgical candidates worried about contracting blood-borne diseases through transfusions.

"Many of our patients do not want other people's blood or any outside protein products in their bodies through surgery processes," said program manager Dawn Myers.

Bloodless surgical techniques, which use special scalpels and other devices, are designed to minimize — but not rule out — transfusions, unless that is the patient's wish.

While expanding access to surgery, bloodless surgery is also one prong of a KMC initiative designed to conserve blood.

"Part of this program is making sure we have blood when we need it," Karen Gorby, KMC's administrative director for perioperative services.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2261 or lbudd@DaytonDailyNews.com.

How to go

What: Bloodless surgery demonstration and discussion

When: Thursday, July 31, 6 p.m. demonstrations; 7 p.m.-9 p.m. discussion

Where: Trent Arena, 3700 Far Hills Dr., Kettering

For more information: Call (800) 426-3812 or go to www.khnetwork.org/bloodless