Jehovah’s Witnesses have revised their policy on blood transfusions, allowing individual members to decide, based on personal conscience, whether to accept or donate the four major components of blood.
The organisation announced the change in a statement from its World Headquarters in Warwick, New York, which was published on its official website on Friday.
Under the revised policy, members can independently decide whether to accept red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma or platelets from another person.
They can also choose whether to donate blood for the specific purpose of providing blood components or fractions to another person.
However, Jehovah’s Witnesses said their longstanding position against transfusions of whole blood remains unchanged.
The organisation said its position on whole blood is based on its interpretation of the biblical instruction to “abstain from blood” contained in Acts 15:20.
Paul Gillies, an international spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses, explained that members continue to regard blood as sacred and view life and blood as gifts from God.
According to him, decisions concerning the use of individual blood components will now be left to each member’s conscience and personal relationship with Jehovah.
The organisation said the policy change followed previous adjustments concerning blood fractions and the use of a person’s own blood during medical treatment.
It explained that because the Bible does not specifically address the four major blood components individually, members are permitted to make personal decisions about whether to accept or donate them.
Jehovah’s Witnesses also clarified that members seek medical treatment and do not practise faith healing.
The organisation said its members are free to choose medical professionals who can provide appropriate treatment while respecting their religious beliefs and individual decisions.
Gillies added that local congregations would not interfere in members’ personal decisions regarding blood components.
He said the organisation would continue to respect and support members as they make medical choices according to their conscience.
Jehovah’s Witnesses said they have more than nine million members worshipping in congregations across more than 200 countries and territories.
The latest policy announcement follows a clarification issued earlier in March regarding the use of a member’s own blood during surgery and other medical procedures.
Under that clarification, individual Witnesses could decide whether their blood could be removed, stored and later returned to them during medical treatment.
The organisation, however, maintained its position against receiving blood from another person.
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