Jehovahs Witnesses and the question of blood (1977)

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Jehovah's Witnesses and the QUESTION OF BLOOD

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Why Do Jehovah's Witnesses Not Accept Blood? 4

Blood As Medicine 17

Is Refusing Blood a Form of Suicide? 20

The Doctor's Role 24

When Children Are Involved 33

Is It Medically Unreasonable to Refuse Blood? 38

Blood Transfusions—How Dangerous? 41

Alternative Therapies 49

Major Surgery Without Blood 55

What Will You Do? 58

References 61

Copyright, 1977 WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA

PUBLISHERS WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, INC. INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, U.S.A.

Jehovah's Witnesses and the Question of Blood

BLOOD is vital to life. Though this has been recognized from ancient times, modern research is providing a greater understanding of its life-sustaining functions.

The practice of transfusing human blood holds a prominent position in modern medical care. Those in the medical field and many others regard the transfer of blood from one human to another as an accepted therapeutic method. 1 But there are people who do not accept blood transfusions. They are Jehovah's Witnesses.

Jehovah's Witnesses cherish and deeply respect life. This is one of the reasons why they do not smoke, use addictive drugs or seek abortions. They have learned from the Bible to view life as sacred, something to be protected and preserved both for themselves and for their children.

Why, then, do Jehovah's Witnesses object to blood transfusions? Is there some rational basis for this conviction that they hold to even in the face of death? And is their position on the matter totally incompatible with modern medical knowledge and principles?

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