Jehovah’s Witnesses have announced an adjustment to their policy on blood, allowing members to make personal decisions about accepting or donating the four main components of blood.
The organisation announced the change in a statement issued by its World Headquarters in Warwick, New York.
According to the statement, individual members can decide whether to accept red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma or platelets from another person.
Members can also decide whether to donate blood specifically for the purpose of providing components or fractions for another person.
Whole-Blood Transfusions Still Rejected
The organisation stressed that the change does not alter its longstanding position on whole-blood transfusions.
Jehovah’s Witnesses continue to reject whole-blood transfusions on religious grounds, citing the biblical command to “abstain from blood” in Acts 15:20.
The organisation said its position on whole blood remains a core religious teaching.
Paul Gillies, an international spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses, said blood continues to be regarded as sacred by members of the faith.
He said medical decisions involving blood components are now considered matters of individual conscience between each Witness and Jehovah.
Individual Conscience Takes Centre Stage
The organisation said the adjustment follows earlier changes concerning blood fractions and the use of a person’s own blood during certain medical procedures.
It said the Bible does not specifically address decisions involving the four main blood components.
As a result, the organisation said those decisions should be left to individual conscience.
The same principle has now been extended to red cells, white cells, plasma and platelets.
Congregations Will Not Interfere
Jehovah’s Witnesses also said local congregations would not interfere in personal medical decisions involving blood components.
Gillies said members would continue to receive support and respect regardless of the individual decisions they make.
He also said Jehovah’s Witnesses seek medical treatment and do not practise faith healing.
According to the organisation, members are encouraged to seek qualified doctors who can provide effective treatment while respecting their wishes, values and religious beliefs.
The organisation also expressed appreciation for physicians who provide medical care that takes patients’ decisions about blood into account.
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Jehovah’s Witnesses have adjusted their blood policy, allowing personal decisions on four main blood components while maintaining their rejection of whole-blood transfusions.
