Jehovah’s Witnesses have announced a significant adjustment to their long-standing prohibition on blood transfusions, now permitting members to use their own stored blood during medical procedures.

 

Under the revised policy, members can have blood removed, preserved, and later reinfused—particularly in planned surgeries. However, the group continues to forbid receiving blood from other donors.

 

Gerrit Lösch, a member of the organization’s leadership, explained that the decision emphasizes personal responsibility, stating, “Each Christian must decide for himself how his blood will be used in medical and surgical care.”

 

The religious group, known for its door-to-door evangelism, affirmed that its core beliefs remain unchanged, citing biblical teachings instructing followers to “abstain from blood.” Jehovah’s Witnesses have approximately 144,000 members in the UK and around nine million worldwide.

 

Despite the change, critics—including former members—argue that it still restricts life-saving options in emergencies, such as severe blood loss or conditions like cancer that may require multiple transfusions. Mitch Melon told the LA Times that the policy remains limiting in critical situations.

 

The issue has also arisen in legal contexts. In December, a court in Edinburgh ruled that doctors could administer a transfusion to a 14-year-old Jehovah’s Witness if her life depended on it, despite her religious refusal. Judge Lady Tait stated that the decision prioritized the child’s best interest while still considering her beliefs.

 

This policy update reflects the group’s attempt to balance religious doctrine with medical realities, while continuing to enforce strict boundaries on external blood transfusions.