The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses has announced a significant change in its long-standing position on blood, allowing individual members to decide, according to their personal conscience, whether to accept or donate the four major components of blood.
The organisation announced the change in a statement issued by its World Headquarters in Warwick, New York, and published on its official website on Friday.
Under the revised position, Jehovah’s Witnesses may personally determine whether to accept red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma or platelets from another person’s blood. The decision, according to the organisation, is now considered a matter of individual conscience.
The change also applies to blood donation. Members are to personally decide whether to donate blood when they know that the blood is intended for the production or use of blood components or fractions for another person.
However, the organisation made clear that the revised position does not permit whole-blood transfusions.
The refusal of whole blood remains a core teaching of Jehovah’s Witnesses, based on the biblical command to “abstain from blood” contained in Acts 15:20.
“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 organisation said.
The four blood components covered by the new position are red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma and platelets.
Paul Gillies, an international spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses at the organisation’s World Headquarters, said the change did not mean the religious group had abandoned its belief that blood and human life are 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 medical decisions involving the individual blood components would now be left between each Witness and their religious conscience.
“We recognise that medical decisions involving blood components are a matter of conscience between each Witness and their God, Jehovah,” he said.
The organisation explained that the latest adjustment builds on previous changes to its position concerning blood fractions and the use of an individual’s own blood during medical procedures.
According to the statement, the Bible does not specifically address whether an individual should accept or donate the four primary components of blood. The organisation therefore said such decisions should be made personally by each member.
“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 statement said.
The revised position effectively gives individual Jehovah’s Witnesses greater personal responsibility over decisions involving red cells, white cells, plasma and platelets while maintaining the organisation’s prohibition on whole-blood transfusions.
The organisation also clarified that its position on medical treatment generally remains unchanged, stressing that Jehovah’s Witnesses seek medical care and do not practise 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 further stated that local congregations would not interfere with members’ individual 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 consistent with patients’ wishes and beliefs.
“We are grateful, too, for the many skilled and compassionate physicians who provide quality medical care that respects our personal wishes regarding blood,” Gillies said.
The development marks a notable adjustment in the religious organisation’s position on the medical use of blood components, while retaining its longstanding prohibition against whole-blood transfusions.
Under the new position, the decision to accept or donate the four major blood components is left to the individual Jehovah’s Witness, based on personal conscience, while the organisation continues to maintain that whole-blood transfusion is prohibited by its religious teachings.