Are Jehovah Witnesses not allowed to donate blood?

Question

If this is true then it means that they are okay with someone dies just because they lost a lot of blood through a car wreck, childbirth or any condition that is recoverable through a blood transfusion. Is death that small of a matter to this religion?

Answer 1

Many or most Jehovah's Witnesses would choose not to donate blood since they have little or no control over the godly or ungodly purposes toward which the blood might be used. However, as a religion, Jehovah's Witnesses do not entirely disallow all blood donations.

In harmony with the bible (especially Acts 15:20,28,29), Jehovah's Witnesses reject transfusions of whole blood and the four primary components which approximate "blood". However, an individual Witness is likely to accept a targeted treatment for a targeted need. The religion tolerates the use of minor blood fractions derived from plasma, platelets, and/or red/white blood cells, and presumably these would come from blood donations.

"Our Kingdom Ministry" of November, 2006 (pages 3,4)
[quote]
Of course, many fractions are derived from blood that has been donated for medical purposes. Each Christian should make a conscientious decision as to whether he or she will accept or will reject the medical use of these substances. ...Although [Jehovah's Witness] Christians do not donate or store their own blood for transfusion purposes, some procedures or tests involving an individual’s blood are not so clearly in conflict with Bible principles. Therefore, each individual should make a conscientious decision... Your decisions should be your own and should not be based on someone else’s conscience. Likewise, no one should criticize another Christian’s decisions. In these matters, “each one will carry his own load” of responsibility.—Gal. 6:4,5.
[unquote]


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

Answer 2

Yes they are allowed to DONATE blood. They just can receive blood. I am a former Jehovah's Witness. I am now a non-christian and an atheist but I have no qualms saying I'm a Jehovah's Witness so I do not have to have a blood transfusion. It's just common sense. The risk or AIDS and Hepatitis are to great in this filthy world. There are plenty of alternatives. Before you spout off rude things, do some research. Check the website and find out their reasoning. If you are a christian you might be surprised as to why they have this rule.

Answer 3

WOW. The above answerer was mostly accurate however as we do not support BTs we would of course not want to donate. Death is a VERY serious matter. As stated above there are MANY concerns with BTs, and in the end BTs are not the end all solution.

Consider this, if you could save a life, and all you have to do is murder someone would you??? Probably not, Why??? Because you feel it wrong. Same thing, we feel it unChristian.

Answer 4

We do not donate blood. we accept non blood products to prolong life such as saline or hetastrach and other non blood boosters. usually in such a severe trauma such as an auto accident it is the brain that dies due to the trauma.
childbirth usually is planned in advance and all medical staff is aware of our stand on blood and have in place alternatives to blood on hand in case of emergency.we love life and cherish it but we would never go against gods law and the sacredness of blood.

Answer 5

It always just seemed to me like they truly believe God will be mad at them if they have a blood transfusion so dying is something they have to do, because God wants it that way.

My parents used to be JW's but left the church shortly after I was born. In the last few years my mom developed a severe form of anemia and has had several blood transfusions that have saved her life. It's scary to think that if she had still been a JW she might not be alive today.

She broke her leg 2 years ago and had to have surgery and my aunt and uncle (who are still JW's) happened to be in town at the time and visited her in the hospital. They actually had the nerve to say that "if she was going to have surgery the blood issue would come up." My mom just told them that she had it handled.