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JW & Blood

The doctrine today

The current policy for whole blood, components, fractions and a patient’s own blood, with the earlier rule shown for comparison. As of .

Read the history of the policy →

In the Society’s own words

“Jehovah's Witnesses do not accept transfusions of whole blood, nor do we donate blood that would be used as a whole blood transfusion to another person.”
“How Do Jehovah's Witnesses Show Respect for Life?” (“Questions From Readers”), jw.org, 18 September 2026
“Christians are not under the Mosaic Law. However, we obey the apostolic command to “abstain from blood.” Furthermore, the Bible does not comment on the use of a person's own blood in medical and surgical care. Therefore, like other choices about health care, each Christian must make his own decision about the use of his own blood in all medical and surgical care.”
2026 Governing Body Update #2, 20 March 2026, as quoted in the September 2026 “Questions From Readers”
“…the Governing Body has decided that this same principle applies to the four primary components of whole blood—red cells, white cells, plasma, and platelets—that are derived from another person's blood. Therefore, each Christian must make his own personal decision about the use of these four primary components in all medical and surgical care. Likewise, each Christian must decide whether to donate blood for the clearly expressed purpose of providing components or fractions for use by another person.”
“Questions From Readers”, jw.org, 18 September 2026
“After considering these and other factors, each Christian must decide whether or not he will accept a component or fraction derived from another person's blood. The congregation will not get involved in that decision, and individual Christians should not judge others.”
“Questions From Readers”, jw.org, 18 September 2026
“If the elders learn that a Christian has consumed unbled meat or blood, or accepted a transfusion of whole blood of another person (allogeneic), two elders should meet with him to provide loving shepherding and to establish the facts. … Depending on the circumstances, the individual may not be exemplary for a period of time.”
Announcement to bodies of elders, 18 September 2026 (9/18/26-E). Reported from a scan supplied to this site; not published on jw.org and not independently authenticated. — not independently verified

    Product by product

    What happens to someone who accepts

    Whole blood
    The public policy still prohibits another person’s whole blood. A September 2026 internal announcement supplied to this site says elders should meet with a member who accepts it and that congregation responsibilities may be affected. The scan has not been independently authenticated. Earlier rules allowed expulsion for unrepentant acceptance; the quoted 2026 wording alone does not establish whether that sanction still applies.
    Components and fractions
    The public September article says the congregation will not intervene in decisions about components or fractions and members should not judge others. Its footnote says personal medical decisions usually need be discussed only with the health-care agents named on the member’s directive. Hospital Liaison Committee help is offered on request.

    Sources: Announcement to congregations and to bodies of elders, 18 September 2026 (9/18/26-E), quoted from scans supplied to this site and not independently authenticated; The Watchtower, 15 January 1961, pages 63–64; Watch Tower press statement, 14 June 2000, as reported.

    Commentary

    This site’s assessment of the sources above.

    The September change permits choices that the 2000 and 2004 articles expressly prohibited. It leaves a question for the organisation: why was accepting a component treated as breaking God’s law before this announcement?

    The new policy gives members more choice. Its effects on congregation practice should be assessed against the new instructions, without assuming that the former penalties still apply to components.