Jehovah's Witnesses and blood transfusions

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Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the Bible prohibits Christians from accepting blood transfusions. Their literature states that, "'abstaining from ... blood' means not accepting blood transfusions and not donating or storing their own blood for transfusion."[1][2] The belief is based on an interpretation of scripture that differs from other Christian denominations.[3] It is one of the doctrines for which Jehovah's Witnesses are best known.[4]

Jehovah's Witnesses' literature teaches that their refusal of transfusions of whole blood or its four primary components—red cells, white cells, platelets, and plasma—is a non-negotiable religious stand and that those who respect life as a gift from God do not try to sustain life by taking in blood,[5][6] even in an emergency.[7] Witnesses are taught that the use of fractions such as albumin, immunoglobulins, and hemophiliac preparations are not absolutely prohibited and are instead a matter of personal choice.[6][8]

The doctrine was introduced in 1945 and has undergone some changes since then. Members of the group who voluntarily accept a transfusion and are not deemed repentant are regarded as having disassociated themselves from the group by abandoning its doctrines[9][10][11] and are subsequently shunned by members of the organization.[12] Although the majority of Jehovah's Witnesses accept the doctrine, a minority do not.[13][14]

The Watch Tower Society has established Hospital Information Services to provide education and facilitate bloodless surgery. This service also maintains Hospital Liaison Committees.[15]

  1. ^ Keep Yourself in God's Love. Watch Tower Society. 2008. p. 77.
  2. ^ "Acts 15:29". NET Bible. 2014. that you abstain from meat that has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what has been strangled and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from doing these things, you will do well. Farewell.
  3. ^ Brachear, Manya A. (October 9, 2012). "More doctors honor religious objections to blood transfusions". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012.
  4. ^ Evans, Allan S.; Moynes, Riley E.; Martinello, Larry (1973). What man Believes: A study of the World's Great Faiths. McGraw-Hill Ryerson. p. 361. ISBN 978-0-07-077440-7. Two elements of belief are probably better known than any other among non-Witnesses. One is the refusal to fight in war ... the other well-known belief is the refusal to accept blood transfusions.
  5. ^ How Can Blood Save Your Life?. Watch Tower Society. 1990. pp. 3–7.
  6. ^ a b "Be Guided by the Living God". The Watchtower. June 15, 2004. pp. 19–24.
  7. ^ "Godly Respect for Blood". The Watchtower. September 1, 1986. p. 25.
  8. ^ Dixon, J. Lowell (November 27, 1981). "Jehovah's Witnesses: The Surgical/Ethical Challenge". JAMA. 246 (21): 2471–2472. doi:10.1001/jama.1981.03320210037021. PMID 7299971.
  9. ^ Muramoto, O (December 1999). "Bioethics of the refusal of blood by Jehovah's Witnesses: Part 3. A proposal for a don't-ask-don't-tell policy". Journal of Medical Ethics. 25 (6): 463–8. doi:10.1136/jme.25.6.463. PMC 479294. PMID 10635499.
  10. ^ Muramoto, O. (January 6, 2001). "Bioethical aspects of the recent changes in the policy of refusal of blood by Jehovah's Witnesses". BMJ. 322 (7277): 37–39. doi:10.1136/bmj.322.7277.37. PMC 1119307. PMID 11141155.
  11. ^ Little, Jane (June 14, 2000). "Jehovah's Witnesses drop transfusion ban". BBC News. Archived from the original on June 18, 2004. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
  12. ^ Jehovah's Witnesses Public Affairs Office press release, June 14, 2000.
  13. ^ Elder, Lee (2000). "Why some Jehovah's Witnesses accept blood and conscientiously reject official Watchtower Society blood policy". Journal of Medical Ethics. 26 (5): 375–380. doi:10.1136/jme.26.5.375. PMC 1733296. PMID 11055042.
  14. ^ Blackwell, Tom (December 20, 2012). "Without fanfare, Jehovah's Witnesses quietly soften position on blood transfusions". National Post. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2012.
  15. ^ Smith, Stephen. "Jehovah's Witnesses defend hospital visits that push for bloodless treatment". CBC News. Retrieved September 13, 2023.