Jehovah's Witnesses Allow Individual Decisions on Allogeneic Blood Transfusion and Donation

The Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses announced Sept. 18 that the decision to accept allogeneic transfusions of red blood cells, white cells, plasma or platelets is now considered “a matter of personal conscience” for members of the religion. Members may also individually decide whether to donate blood for the purpose of providing these components or fractions for another person.

The recent move extends the conscience-based approach the organization has applied to other blood-related decisions to the four main blood components. In March, the group updated its guidance to let members decide whether to undergo autologous blood collection, storage and transfusion, having previously not permitted storage of one's own blood for later use. Decisions on blood fractions were already treated as matters of individual conscience.

The organization's longstanding prohibition of whole-blood transfusion remains unchanged.