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BackJehovah's Witnesses relax blood rules. You will be able to take its ingredients
Jehovah's Witnesses relax blood rules. You will be able to take its ingredients
NEWS
RMF242 days agoReligion1 min readView original

Jehovah's Witnesses relax blood rules. You will be able to take its ingredients

The Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses has decided to relax the ban on transfusions. From now on, the decision to accept the main blood components will be up to individual believers.

jehovah's witnessesblood transfusionreligion

Quick Look

  • Jehovah's Witnesses have relaxed their long-standing ban on blood transfusions.
  • The highest religious authority announced that followers could decide on their own about taking the four main components of blood, although the ban on whole blood transfusions remained in force.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

Jehovah's Witnesses have so far applied a strict prohibition on blood transfusions resulting from the interpretation of biblical commands.

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The topic of the ban on transfusions and blood donations by followers of Jehovah's Witnesses aroused considerable controversy.

In the past, it happened that the orthodox approach to this issue ended in tragedy. In 2007, the British newspaper "Daily Mail" described the story of a 22-year-old woman who died after giving birth to twins. She refused a transfusion that could have saved her life. The 22-year-old woman did not change her decision despite the doctors' requests. She orphaned two children.

However, the ban on undergoing blood transfusions, which has been in force in this community for years, will be relaxed. The decision on this matter was made by the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, the highest religious authority. They reported that Jehovah's Witnesses can receive products derived from blood donated by others.

They clarified that there are four main components of whole blood: plasma, platelets and red and white blood cells. From now on, it will be up to each Jehovah's Witness to decide on this matter. At the same time, however, the Governing Body maintained the ban on whole blood transfusions.

Why don't Jehovah's Witnesses donate blood?

The organization uses its website to explain why there is such a radical attitude towards transfusions and blood donation in the Jehovah's Witness community.

"Both in the Old and New Testaments, we can find clear commands to abstain from blood. Moreover, according to God, blood represents life. So we avoid taking blood not only because we want to obey God, but also because we respect Him as the Giver of life," they explain.

Open Questions

  • How exactly will followers make individual decisions?
  • Will easing regulations impact medical statistics in the community?

Related Topics

jehovah's witnesses
OrganizationsDailyMailGoverning Body of Jehovah's Witnesses
Topicsblood transfusionreligionhealthgoverning body
This article was originally published by RMF24.

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