Of all those who refuse to take blood transfusions, only 13% are JWs. Why do you think the others refuse?

Question

There are now 15 hospitals in the U.S. that are considered bloodless, in that they no longer administer blood transfusions. UCLA has developed transplant procedures that no longer require blood, including the Liver.

I shoudl note that I had doctors from England in my taxi and they said they are required to give anyone under the age of 18 blood from America, because of possible contamination of the supply by Mad Cow Disease. They still don't have a test for it.

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/81/97028.htm?lastselectedguid={5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348}

Answer 1

There are non-Witnesses who agree with Jehovah's Witnesses that the scriptures demonstrate a clear pattern indicating the sacredness with which Jehovah God (and thus god-fearing humankind) views all creature blood.


Predates Mosaic Law.
For example, over a thousand years before the birth of Moses, the pre-Israel, pre-Jewish, pre-Hebrew man Noah received what the scriptures record as only the second restrictive command on humans (after Garden of Eden's tree):

"Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; and as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. For your lifeblood I will surely require a reckoning; of every beast I will require it [that is, lifeblood] and of man" (Genesis 9:3-5)


Jewish Law.
Later, God's feeling regarding blood was codified into the Mosaic Law. This part of the Law dealing with blood was unique in that it applied, not just to Israel, but also to non-Jewish foreigners among them. It's also interesting that besides forbidding the consumption of blood, the Law also mandated that it be 'poured out on the ground', not used for any purpose.

"No person among you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger who sojourns among you eat blood. Any man also of the people of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among them, who takes in hunting any beast or bird that may be eaten shall pour out its blood and cover it with dust." (Lev 17:12,13)

By comparison, it's significant that the Law also forbid the consumption of ceremonial animal fat, but that didn't apply to non-Jewish foreigners and it DID allow the fat to be used for other purposes.

"The LORD said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, You shall eat no fat, of ox, or sheep, or goat. The fat of an animal that dies of itself, and the fat of one that is torn by beasts, may be put to any other use" (Lev 7:22-24)


Early Christian era.
The Christian era ended the validity of the Mosaic Law, but remember that the restriction on eating blood preceded the Mosaic Law by over a thousand years. Still, does the New Testament indicate that Jehovah God changed his view of blood's sacredness?

"[God] freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses" (Eph 1:6,7)

"[God's] beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins... and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood" (Colossians 1:13-20)

"we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols and from unchastity and from what is strangled and from blood." (Acts 15:19,20)

"For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from unchastity." Acts 15:28,29


Modern times
Some will claim that the bible's command to "abstain" from blood only applies to eating it, and does not apply to the use of blood for other purpose. If that form of respect for blood were common among Christendom, one might wonder then why so many (who ostensibly follow the book of Acts) so happily eat their blood sausage and blood pudding if they truly respect blood according to some limited understanding of Acts 15:20,29. In fact, respect for blood and for Acts and for the Scriptures themselves is too rare among even supposedly god-fearing persons.

An honest review of the Scriptural pattern over the millenia from Noah to the Apostle Paul teaches humans that blood is to be used for a single purpose: acknowledging the Almighty. Otherwise, for centuries the instruction was to simply dispose of it; 'poor it upon the ground'. When Jehovah's Witnesses pursue non-blood medical management, they are working to honor and obey their Creator.


Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/library/hb/index.htm
http://watchtower.org/library/vcnb/article_01.htm

Answer 2

What's the point? I can asses that most hospitals don't use whole blood simply because it's not necessary with blood transfer machinery. To say a hospital is bloodless is out of context, to say they don't use blood because it's not necessary would be more appropriate.
Blood is not required during surgery only because the patients own whole blood is used, unless it's an emergency it's not necessary to use whole blood.
What's the real documentation on "mad cow" disease, what would be the outcome of a person getting this if given whole blood. So, what's the point. Bye the way, blood is not an organ. There are very few tests that infectious diseases can get away with nowdays. In an extreme emergancy blood is given but, only when necessary.

Answer 3

Some reasons may be an unsafe blood supply, Patient research into the pros and cons of blood transfusions (mostly cons), or the growing realization that blood is completely unnecessary for saving life in 99.9 percent of cases, it is just a patch for sloppy surgeons. Non blood expanders could and should be used in most cases where a pint of blood is used instead. The blood is an organ just like the heart, you tranfuse blood and you also can transfuse allergies, addictions, personality traits and blood can be rejected just like any other organ, not to mention the thousands of possible diseases that can be transmitted by the blood, the most well know of which are Hepatitis, Menangitis, Aids, Influenza, Herpes, Gonorrea, ECT ECT ECT ECT

Answer 4

The fear of transmitting a disease that could not be tested for in the blood. example a window stage disease. Also there are other religions that believe in not excepting blood...

There are many new oxygen carrying fluids in development that can reduce the need for blood.

But from person experience and things I have seen, blood is still the ultimate. Although in the medical world anything can be justified or contradicted due to different research or opinion.

Answer 5

thank you for elevating this concept provocking question. i studied JW faith some years in the past at college and interviewed some JW's in this occasion. They felt justified on the time by way of fact it became perfect on the beginning up of the AIDS/HIV subject in 1987. So in case you agree for blood you are able to desire to get aids -"gods curse" their words no longer mine. They declare it is biblical in beginning to abstain from blood, yet this became a literal translation of a passage touching directly to animal sacrifices to pagan gods, no longer transfusions which had no longer even been invested then! to date as i will see, God supplies docs the talents and expertise to maintain lives, who're we to throw away a existence? i'm particular god does no longer have needed those 2 toddlers to enhance up motherless for the sake of a misinterpretation of the bible. So mindless. each physique is entitled to have self belief what they like, yet while their faith has unfavourable outcomes on others (ie the twins, or extremist terrorists as an occasion) then there must be some thing incorrect. My recommendations are with those toddlers who will little doubt blame the two themselves for being born or their dad for no longer stoping their mom's dying. no one could die in childbirth these days. adequate pronounced - i'm off to grant blood!

Answer 6

JW's? If you mean Jehovah's Witnesses, I have treated a few and it's against their religion. As for the others, probably scared of getting a disease.

Added: We should all be aware that contracting a disease from blood transmission is not the only possibility. There have been studies done from 'outside' researchers that vaccines transmit and are responsible for many diseases, and perhaps some of the new ones.

Answer 7

Fear of contracting an illness and ignorance (not understanding the value of donating blood and it's not infectious).

Answer 8

Ignorance?
Death wish?

Answer 9

They said blood is sacred.