The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses has announced a significant adjustment to the organisation’s position on blood, giving individual members the freedom to decide, according to their personal conscience, whether to accept or donate four major blood components.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued by the organisation’s World Headquarters in Warwick, New York, and published on its official website on Friday.
Under the revised position, Jehovah’s Witnesses may personally decide whether to accept red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma or platelets from another person’s blood.
Members are also expected to make their own decisions about donating blood when it is specifically intended for the production or use of blood components or fractions for another person.
However, the organisation clarified that the adjustment does not change its long-standing position against whole-blood transfusions.
According to the statement, the prohibition on whole-blood transfusions remains a core religious teaching based on the biblical instruction to “abstain from blood” in Acts 15:20.
Paul Gillies, an international spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses at the organisation’s World Headquarters, said the group continues to consider both life and blood sacred.
“Blood remains sacred to Jehovah’s Witnesses, who continue to regard life and blood as precious gifts from God,” Gillies said.
He added that decisions involving individual blood components are considered matters of personal conscience between each member and God.
Four Blood Components
The four components covered by the new policy are:
- Red blood cells
- White blood cells
- Plasma
- Platelets
The organisation said the decision follows earlier adjustments concerning the use of blood fractions and a person’s own blood during medical treatment.
It explained that because the Bible does not specifically address whether an individual should accept or donate the four major blood components, such decisions are now left to personal conscience.
“Since the Bible does not comment on such decisions, they are a matter of individual conscience. That same reasoning has now been extended to the four main components of blood,” the organisation stated.
Whole Blood Still Prohibited
Despite the policy adjustment, Jehovah’s Witnesses said their position on whole-blood transfusions remains unchanged.
The organisation cited Acts 15:20 as the biblical basis for its continued refusal of whole-blood transfusions on religious grounds.
It also emphasised that its members are encouraged to seek medical treatment and do not practise faith healing.
“Jehovah’s Witnesses love life and want the best available medical care,” the statement said, adding that members seek doctors who can provide effective treatment consistent with their wishes, values and beliefs.
Congregations Will Not Interfere
Gillies said local congregations would not become involved in individual members’ decisions regarding the four blood components.
“Congregations do not involve themselves in personal decisions that rest with the individual conscience. We will continue to respect and support the personal decisions of our fellow believers,” he said.
He also expressed appreciation to medical professionals who provide treatment while respecting Jehovah’s Witnesses’ individual choices regarding blood.
The policy adjustment represents a change in how the organisation handles decisions involving the four principal components of blood, while maintaining its existing prohibition on whole-blood transfusions.
