By our Reporter
The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses has announced a change to its policy on blood, allowing members to personally decide whether to accept or donate the four main components of blood — red cells, white cells, plasma and platelets — based on their individual 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 a matter of personal 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 medical use.
However, the organisation stressed that its longstanding position against whole-blood transfusions remains unchanged, citing the biblical command to “abstain from blood” in Acts 15:20.
International spokesman Paul Gillies said, “Blood remains sacred to Jehovah’s Witnesses, who continue to regard life and blood as precious gifts from God.”
He added that medical decisions involving blood components are matters of conscience between individual Witnesses and Jehovah.
The organisation said the latest adjustment follows previous updates concerning blood fractions and the use of a person’s own blood during medical procedures. It explained that because the Bible does not specifically address such decisions, they are left to individual conscience.
Jehovah’s Witnesses also said they seek quality medical care and do not practise faith healing, while choosing doctors who can provide effective treatment consistent with their beliefs and wishes.
Gillies said local congregations would not interfere with members’ personal decisions and would continue to respect and support them.
