The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses has announced a change to its position on blood, allowing members to decide whether to accept or donate the four main blood components based on personal conscience.
The organisation disclosed this in a statement issued by its World Headquarters in Warwick, New York, and published on its website on Friday.
According to the statement, the decision to accept red cells, white cells, plasma or platelets from another person’s blood is now considered a matter of individual conscience.
It also said each Witness must decide whether to donate blood specifically for the purpose of providing components or fractions for another person’s use.
However, the organisation stressed that its position on whole-blood transfusions remains unchanged.
“The long-standing refusal of whole-blood transfusions on religious grounds, a core teaching based on the command to ‘abstain from blood’ (Acts 15:20), is unchanged,” the statement said.
Paul Gillies, an international spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses at the organisation’s World Headquarters, said blood continued to be regarded as sacred by members.
“Blood remains sacred to Jehovah’s Witnesses, who continue to regard life and blood as precious gifts from God,” Gillies said.
“We recognise that medical decisions involving blood components are a matter of conscience between each Witness and their God, Jehovah.”
The organisation said the adjustment followed earlier updates concerning blood fractions and the use of an individual’s own blood during medical procedures.
“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,” it added.
On medical treatment, the organisation said Jehovah’s Witnesses value life and seek the best available medical care, while rejecting faith healing.
“Jehovah’s Witnesses love life and want the best available medical care. They do not practise faith healing, and they seek out doctors who can provide effective treatment in accord with their wishes, values and beliefs,” the statement said.
Gillies added that local congregations would not interfere in decisions that were considered matters of individual conscience.
“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 physicians who provide medical care while respecting Jehovah’s Witnesses’ individual wishes concerning blood.
