‎Jehovah’s Witnesses relax policy on blood transfusion, allow use of self-donated blood

‎THE leadership of Jehovah’s Witnesses has announced a change to its long-standing policy on blood transfusions, now allowing members to decide whether their own blood can be stored and used for medical treatment, according to recent reports.
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‎Under the updated guidance, members may choose to have their own blood drawn in advance and reinfused during surgery or other medical procedures if needed.
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‎The adjustment has been described by the organisation as a clarification rather than a reversal of doctrine, while the broader prohibition on receiving blood from other people remains in place.
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‎For decades, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been widely known for refusing blood transfusions on religious grounds, based on their interpretation of biblical passages instructing believers to “abstain from blood.”
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‎This belief traditionally included rejecting whole blood and its major components, even in life-threatening situations, though some minor blood fractions have been left to personal conscience.
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‎Previously, the faith also discouraged storing one’s own blood for later use, a practice known medically as autologous transfusion.
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‎The new policy allows individual members to decide for themselves whether to permit this procedure as part of their medical care.
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‎Observers say the change could affect how Jehovah’s Witness patients are treated in hospitals, particularly in planned surgeries where blood loss is expected.
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‎However, critics note that the organisation still forbids transfusions using donated blood, meaning emergency situations may continue to present challenges for adherents who strictly follow the teaching.
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‎Jehovah’s Witnesses number millions of followers worldwide, and their stance on blood transfusion has long been one of the most distinctive and controversial aspects of the denomination’s beliefs.