Why should we respect Jehovah's Witnesses right to die but not terminally ill patients?

Question

If they want to die that's fine by me but others can't because they don't have religion as an excuse.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6321363.stm

In this case a family did make a decision for the babies which resulted in two potentially avoidable deaths.

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe the bible to teach that God or Christ grant each human some "right to die" according to the personal preference of that human. Life is a gift, and it would disrespect the gift and the giver to treat life according to some human whim, without regard for God's thoughts on the matter.

(James 1:17-18) Every good gift and every perfect present is from above, for it comes down from the Father of the celestial lights... Because he willed it, he brought us forth

(Psalm 100:3) Know that Jehovah is God. It is he that has made us, and not we ourselves. We are his people and the sheep of his pasturage.

(Ecclesiastes 7:16-17) Do not become righteous overmuch, nor show yourself excessively wise. ...Why should you die when it is not your time?


Jehovah's Witnesses are not pro-euthanasia, and they do not advocate any social or political cause. Instead, it is their intense desire to please God and Christ that motivates the Witnesses to respect God's views regarding the misuse of blood.

As Christians, they are bound by the bible's words in "the Apostolic Decree". This decree was the first official decision communicated to the various congregations by the twelve faithful apostles (and a handful of other "older men" which the apostles had chosen to add to the first century Christian governing body in Jerusalem). The decree helps demonstrate that the first century Christian congregation was highly organized, and that the holy spirit actively assists those "taking the lead" to make correct decisions.

Here is what the "Apostolic Decree" says, which few self-described Christians obey or even respect:

(Acts 15:20) Write them [the various Christian congregations] to abstain from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.

(Acts 15:28-29) For the holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to you, except these necessary things, 29 to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication. If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper.


Quite explicitly, the Apostolic Decree plainly forbids the misuse of blood by Christians (despite the fact that nearly every other provision of former Jewish Mosaic Law was recognized as unnecessary). It seems odd therefore, that literally one Christian religion continues to teach that humans must not use blood for any purpose other than honoring Almighty God.

A Jehovah's Witness does not insist upon his personal preference as a goal unto itself. Instead, Witnesses insist upon their right to live in harmony with the repeated bible teaching that blood is specially "owned" by God, and must not be used for any human purpose. Witnesses do not have any superstitious aversion to testing or respectfully handling blood, and believe that a person who conscientiously pursues medical treatment cannot be compared with one harboring a so-called 'death-wish'.

Answer 2

Acts 15:29 "to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols and from BLOOD and from things strangled and from fornication. If YOU carefully keep yourselves from these things, YOU will prosper.

JWS may use other medical treatments and methods rather then using Whole blood such as:

Blood donation strictly for purpose of further fractionation, Transfusions of autologous blood part of a "current therapy", Hemodilution, Intraoperative blood salvage, Heart-Lung Machine, Dialysis, Epidural Blood Patch, Plasmapheresis, Platelet Gel, Hemopure, PolyHeme, among others.....

Answer 3

Terminally ill patients are allowed to make that decision for themselves. They can refuse treatment at any time. However, if they can't make that decision, a family member can not make it for them.

Answer 4

First, many terminaly ill patients are allowed to stop treatment if they so desire.
Secondly, deciding to not accept one or more treatments over other treatments is not the same as ending treatments. Saying I don't want blood, simply means that. It does not say NO treatment.

Answer 5

I am not sure I get what you are asking here. We should respect the decisions of those JW's over 18 who speak on their behalf. Those who speak for those under 18 need questions raised. There are legal instruments available for those over 18 who are unable to speak for themselves.

Answer 6

Jehovah's Witnesses DO NOT want to die. When we refuse blood transfusions, we are not taking steps to end our own life, which is murder and a sin. The two situations are completely dissimilar.
We welcome any bloodless alternatives.

Answer 7

it is an abomination every body has the right to die or live for that matter.why would we legislate whether people have rights or not we do.life liberty and pursuit of happiness

Answer 8

That's a good question--is life fair?

Answer 9

This is 100% child abuse. I'm glad that those babies were taken away from them. It makes me sick to my stomach that those people are willing to let their children die.