Jehovah’s Witnesses relax doctrine on blood transfusion
A major shift in Jehovah’s Witnesses blood transfusion doctrine has been announced, with a new rule now permitting self donation, that is, storing one’s own blood for future use.
The announcement came nearly three months after a social media influencer, Esther Mensah, popularly known as Aunty Esther, died of cancer after refusing to accept blood transfusion citing her Jehovah Witness faith as reason.
But Jehovah Witness still maintains the ban on transfusions of another person’s blood but allows individual discretion in life-saving treatments.
In a video statement released on their website on Friday, Governing Body member Gerrit Lösch said the clarification aims to give Christians the freedom to make personal decisions regarding the use of their own blood during surgeries or other medical treatments.
He emphasised that while Christians must abstain from blood as a doctrinal principle, the Bible does not comment on using one’s own blood in medical care.
“Regarding the use of one’s own blood…a Christian must decide for himself how his own blood will be handled in the course of a surgical procedure, medical test, or current therapy,” he said.
He cited biblical instructions from Noah and the Mosaic Law, noting that Christians today are not bound by the command to pour out blood and cover it with dust: “The Bible does not comment on the use of a person’s own blood in medical and surgical care.”
According to him, many members already accept procedures involving their own blood, including blood tests, heart-lung machines, cell salvage devices, and kidney dialysis.
Lösch further explained that Christians may now choose whether their blood is removed, stored, and returned during surgery.
“Therefore, after much prayer and consideration of the Scriptures, the Governing Body has decided to clarify our position on the use of a patient’s own blood in medical and surgical care.
“Some Christians may decide that they would allow their blood to be stored and then be given back to them. Others may object. Each Christian must make his personal decision on all matters involving the use of his own blood with regard to medical or surgical care,” Lösch added.
