Jehovah’s Witnesses have announced that members can now decide, according to personal conscience, whether to accept or donate the four main components of blood.
The Governing Body announced the change in a statement issued by the organisation’s World Headquarters in Warwick, New York. It said decisions involving red cells, white cells, plasma and platelets from another person’s blood would now be matters of individual conscience. Members can also decide whether to donate blood specifically for the production of components or fractions for another person.
However, the organisation said its longstanding position against whole-blood transfusions remains unchanged.
It cited the biblical command to “abstain from blood” in Acts 15:20 as the basis for its continued refusal of whole-blood transfusions on religious grounds. Paul Gillies, an international spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses, said members continue to regard blood and life as sacred gifts from God.
He said medical decisions involving blood components were matters of conscience between individual Witnesses and Jehovah. The organisation said the change follows earlier updates concerning blood fractions and the use of a member’s own blood during medical procedures.
It said local congregations would not interfere with decisions that rest on individual conscience. Jehovah’s Witnesses said they seek medical treatment from doctors who can provide effective care while respecting their wishes, values and beliefs.
The organisation says it has more than nine million members across more than 200 countries and territories.
