Jehovah’s Witnesses Ease Blood Transfusion Policy, Allow Storage and Use of Own Blood
- Jehovah's Witnesses have updated their blood transfusion policy, allowing members to withdraw their own blood
- This update marks a historic policy shift after 75 years of the existence of the Christian-based religious movement
- Despite the update, critics argued that the change offers insufficient freedom for medical emergencies and treatments
Jehovah's Witnesses have updated a policy to allow their members to have their own blood withdrawn, stored and given back in medical procedures.
This update marks the first significant shift in the religious denomination's stance on blood transfusion after a 75-year prohibition on their members.
Source: Twitter
Even though the update will allow members to withdraw their own blood for planned procedures, they are still forbidden to receive the blood of others.
According to the BBC, Gerrit Losch, part of the Jehovah's Witnesses leadership, announced the change in the Christian movement's rule, saying:
"Each Christian must decide for himself how his blood will be used in medical and surgical care."
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the denomination said:
"Our core belief regarding the sanctity of blood remains unchanged."
Jehovah's Witnesses is a Christian-based denomination with a reported nine million active members worldwide, probably best known for its door-to-door evangelism campaigns.
The group has historically had a rule that did not allow its members to accept blood transfusions.
On the Jehovah's Witnesses website, it gives reasons for their stance and quotes Bible verses to back their decision.
"This is a religious issue rather than a medical one. Both the Old and New Testaments clearly command us to abstain from blood. (Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:10; Deuteronomy 12:23; Acts 15:28, 29) Also, God views blood as representing life. (Leviticus 17:14) So we avoid taking blood not only in obedience to God but also out of respect for him as the Giver of life."
Reacting to the update in the movement's rules, some former members have criticised the move, saying it 'doesn't go far enough'.
Reactions to Jehovah's Witnesses blood transfusion update
YEN.com.gh collated some reactions to the post shared by @xghana on X. Read them below:
@newness2025 said:
"Still doesn’t make sense…blood transfusions are required in emergencies. If you need blood while in Dubai and your blood is stored up in Ghana what would be the point of this?"
@DeborahYeboah16 wrote:
"75 years later and this is the compromise? Not a full change, but definitely a crack in the door."
@AtindanaVictor1 said:
"Finally,they have made some changes to their doctrines. That is great. But we hope as time goes on they take blood from other people as well. This is a great step."
@therealStanOoo wrote:
"Emergency in China and your stored blood is in Nigeria and you think nature will wait for you to get your blood."
@RichyOsei said:
"Funny how a lot of their members have lost their lives just because the church did not permit them to buy blood."
Source: UGC
Student passes away despite blood transfusion
YEN.com.gh also recently reported that a 21-year-old student had died after being stung by a swarm of bees on campus
Emmanuella Quainoo was enrolled at a private campus at the time, attempting to improve her earlier WASSCE scores.
She passed away after the bee attack, despite medical staff undertaking urgent treatment, including a blood transfusion.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
