Jehovah’s Witnesses have revised their policy on blood, allowing individual members to decide according to their conscience whether to accept or donate the four main components of blood.
The religious organisation announced the change in a statement from its World Headquarters in Warwick, New York, published on its website on Friday.
Under the new position, members may personally decide whether to accept red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma or platelets from another person. They may also choose whether to donate blood for the purpose of providing components or fractions for someone else.
The group, however, said its long-standing rejection of whole-blood transfusions remains in force. It says the stance is rooted in its reading of the biblical command to “abstain from blood” in Acts 15:20.
Its international spokesman, Paul Gillies, said blood is still sacred to members, who regard life and blood as gifts from God. He said decisions on blood components would now be left to each Witness in their relationship with Jehovah.
According to the organisation, the Bible does not specifically address the four major components of blood, which is why members are free to make their own choices. It added that the adjustment builds on earlier changes concerning blood fractions and the use of a person’s own blood during medical procedures.
Gillies said local congregations would not interfere with members’ decisions, adding that the organisation would continue to support them in making personal medical choices.
The group also stressed that its members seek medical treatment and do not practise faith healing. It said they choose doctors who can provide effective care while respecting their religious beliefs and personal decisions.
Jehovah’s Witnesses say they have more than nine million members in congregations across over 200 countries and territories.
The latest announcement follows a clarification reported in March on the use of a member’s own blood during surgery and other procedures. Under that clarification, individual Witnesses could decide whether their blood could be removed, stored and returned to them during treatment, while the ban on receiving blood from another person remained.
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