I have a question for Jehovahs Witness....?

Question

I know Jehovahs Witness do not believe in blood transfusions, well anyway, if your son or daughter needed a life-saving blood transfusion, what would be your decision?

Answer 1

It seems necessary to question the certainty with which the questioner supposes that a blood transfusion must be "life saving". In fact, not only will an honest doctor refuse to guarantee that a blood transfusion will save a particular life, but a TRULY honest doctor will admit that many MULTIPLES more have died from blood transfusions than from a conscientious decision to pursue other medical strategies.

Fact.

In any event, Jehovah's Witnesses AND more and more secular governments believe that so-called "mature minors" should be allowed to make educated decisions regarding their own medical care.

Regarding very young children, it would seem that when parents give clear evidence of studiously working to protect and prolong their child's life and best interests, the parents should be given the deference and respect befitting any other serious family decision. Sadly, anti-Witness critics ignore two facts.

1. Many MULTIPLES more have died as a result of a blood transfusion than have died from a conscientious decision to pursue other medical treatments.

2. Medical technologies exist to treat literally every illness and injury without resorting to the old-fashioned infusion of whole blood, plasma, platelets, or red/white blood cells.

Why should government or a handful of doctors insist that *IT* should have the only right to choose a course of treatment, especially when responsible parents are simply and thoughtfully requesting a different course of treatment? A Jehovah's Witness may accept all minor blood fractions, so if there is some targeted need then a Witness will accept a targeted treatment (the only objections are to those four components which approximate actual blood).


It is not Jehovah's Witnesses who decide that blood is sacred. It is Almighty God who declares it so, as the Divine Author of the Holy Bible!

As God's spokesman and as Head of the Christian congregation, Jesus Christ made certain that the early congregation reiterated, recorded, and communicated renewed Christian restrictions against the misuse of blood.

Jehovah's Witnesses are not anti-medicine or anti-technology, and they do not have superstitious ideas about some immortal "soul" literally encapsulated in blood. Instead, as Christians, the Witnesses seek to obey the very plain language of the bible regarding blood.

As Christians, they are bound by the bible's words in "the Apostolic Decree". Ironically, 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). God and Christ apparently felt (and feel) that respect for blood is quite important.

Here is what the "Apostolic Decree" said, 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 better question would ask: How can other self-described Christian religions justify the fact that they don't even care if their adherents drink blood and eat blood products?


Jehovah's Witnesses recognize 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 Witnesses believe these Scriptures apply to blood and the four primary components which approximate "blood". An individual Jehovah's Witness is likely to accept a targeted treatment for a targeted need, including a treatment which includes a minor fraction derived from plasma, platelets, and/or red/white blood cells.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/hb/index.htm?article=article_07.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/vcnb/article_01.htm

Answer 2

The same as "Brian McClelland

No wonder Brian McClelland, director Edinburgh and Scotland Blood Transfusion Service, asks doctors to “remember that a transfusion is a transpland and therefore not a trivial decision.” He suggests that doctors ponder the question,”IF THIS WAS MYSELF OR MY CHILD, WOULD I AGREE TO THE TRANSFUSION?” More than a few health-care workers express themselves as did/one hematologist, “We transfusion-medicine specialists do not like to get or to give blood.” If this is the feeling among some well-trained individuals in the medical community, how should patients feel.?

Answer 3

Why is it people have no problem sending their son or daughter into the military where they are asked to follow commands, no questions asked. There, many have sacrificed their lives and died obeying commands. With no real reward from the one whom they served. But when a Jehovah's Witness decides to obey God and abstain from blood, it's an issue. Is it better to die for man and not God? I don't think so! Of course we don't want to die, but at least Jehovah has the power to resurrect us if we're obedient. That's something man can never do!

Answer 4

Acts 15:28, 29 - abstain from things sacrificed to idols, FROM BLOOD and from fornication


No transfusions. It is against God's law.

Answer 5

well as Christians we would have to believe in the Resurrection hope & follow God's direction on the use of blood, There are some things that are not negotiable , murder, adultry, use of blood. you might remember the 3 hebrews who were trown into the furnace for not bowing to the Idol of the Babylonions Or how Daniel was thrown into the lions pit for not obeying the King, they were asked to do something that was NON NEGOTIBLE

Answer 6

if you ever have questions, you could look at Watchtower.org and just do a search.. if that helps...

I have had personal experience in this one, I would much rather keep God's law rather than men's... it has a whole lot more to do with facts that people outside the religion don't know... but here is where you can find out for yourself.

Answer 7

there are a great number of alternatives to the use of blood in medical procedures.

as was suggested, do some research on the use of blood. you may be surprised at your findings!

Answer 8

This is the age old story of beating Jw's with the -little children- theory.

Answer 9

They believe in Yehova's eternal powers.

Answer 10

We would refuse....

EDIT: If you search this question in Yahoo Answers, you would get many results that go more into depth regarding this issue. ;)