What Jehovah's Witnesses Believe About Blood Donation and Transfusion

Religions across the world encourage blood donation, but for millions of Jehovah's Witnesses, giving or transfusing blood is strictly forbidden.

Kathleen Marsh is the executive editor of Faith in Blood, a website dedicated to expanding awareness of the religious significance of blood donation. Marsh holds an MA in Religion and Literature from Yale Divinity School and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of California, Riverside.

Since 2020, I've had the pleasure of serving as the executive editor for Faith in Blood, an OBI-founded initiative designed to help people of all faith traditions explore the religious significance of blood donation. As its name implies, Faith in Blood does this with the understanding that we can come from different walks of life, read separate spiritual texts, and still find common ground in saving lives.

... But what happens when someone's religious beliefs prohibit them from donating blood, as is the case for Jehovah's Witnesses?

I've found that there are no easy answers, especially considering the critical missions of Faith in Blood and Our Blood Institute. We also believe in honoring and respecting the religious freedoms of our community members across Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, though, regardless of their donation status. For that reason, I think it's important to address what Jehovah's Witnesses believe about blood donation and blood transfusion, why they believe what they do, and how followers of other major religions have come to different conclusions.

Why Can't Jehovah's Witnesses Receive Blood Transfusions or Donate Blood?

It's true. Jehovah's Witnesses aren't just discouraged from giving blood — followers of the religion aren't supposed to accept blood transfusions, either.

The ban stems from their understanding of a few key passages of scripture, including passages on Mosaic Law in the Hebrew Bible and complementary passages found in the book of Acts in the New Testament. The key idea is that blood is the life of a creature and should never be changed, shared, consumed or otherwise tampered with.

In Leviticus, Jews were commanded to abstain from consuming the blood of animals because the "life of the creature is in the blood (Lev 17:11)." In other words, blood contains a sacred gift from God and ought to be treated with reverence. Jehovah's Witnesses have extrapolated from this passage a broader meaning, interpreting blood transfusions as a kind of consumption. And so, Jehovah's Witnesses are prohibited from sharing their blood with others. This fidelity to their understanding of scripture is so important to them that even in the most urgent, life-threatening situations, Jehovah's Witnesses will often refuse blood transfusions.

Are There No Exceptions?

As medical science advances, Jehovah’s Witnesses have had to answer increasingly complex questions about blood. For instance, they have a clear teaching that no member of their society should receive whole blood or any of the four major components of blood — red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, and platelets.

But, as Harvard Medical School's Dr. Edwin J. Cohn demonstrated 80 years ago, blood can actually be broken down beyond those components. In 1940, Cohn developed a technique for extracting tiny components of blood, called minor fractions, from whole blood. These minor fractions include components like clotting factors, which play a role in medical treatments aimed at stopping blood loss.

As medical technology for extracting blood fractions increased, so too did our understanding of how those components operate within the human body — or should I say between bodies? As it turns out, when a woman is pregnant, many minor fractions (proteins, enzymes, hormones, etc.) are passed between a mother and her unborn child. As a result of this discovery, the use of certain blood fractions in medical treatment is considered "a matter of moral conscience" — in other words, a personal decision.

Do All Jehovah's Witnesses Adhere to This Doctrine?

I certainly can't speak for every Jehovah's Witness, nor do I want to! But Witnesses can be "disfellowshipped" if found to have donated or received a blood transfusion. That term doesn't just refer to an excommunication from the faith, but a complete shunning by all other Jehovah's Witnesses, including family members.

Such a severe consequence all but ensures that a vast majority of Jehovah's Witnesses abide by the strictures of the religion. It would appear, however, that at least some Witnesses are pushing for a doctrinal change.

An anonymously led organization called "Advocates for Jehovah's Witness Reform on Blood," or AJWRB, is purportedly comprised of Jehovah's Witnesses and argues passionately for reform.

In a Q&A on the AJWRB website, the organization writes: "Reform has occurred before. Previous bans were lifted against vaccinations, organ transplants and many products that contain blood fractions... We seek to save lives by speeding up the rate of reform."

Do Any Other Religions Discourage Blood Transfusions or Donations?

Christian Scientists also often refuse blood products, though their reasons are different than those held by Jehovah's Witnesses. Christian Scientists, unlike Jehovah's Witnesses, advocate for prayer-based healing and tend to avoid Western medical interventions.

Another point of difference: each Christian Scientist is given the opportunity to decide for themselves when to rely on prayer alone and when to combine prayer with medical treatment, such as the use of blood products. The trend amongst this group is to favor spiritual remedies for healing.

What About Other Religions? What Do They Say About Transfusions and Donating Blood?

It’s important to note, that while both Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christian Scientists have devout reasons for refusing blood-based medical treatment, nearly all other world religions share a different view.

Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Christians, and Buddhists (a group that comprises nearly 80% of the world’s population) not only accept blood transfusions but actively promote the practice of blood donation. Despite their many theological and philosophical differences, all these religious groups believe in the absolute good of preserving human life through medical treatment. Blood donation is seen as an act of generosity that reflects the ultimate mission of human life — to love one another.

If your beliefs permit it, consider signing up to give blood today! By sacrificing just an hour of your day, you could save up to three lives! There is no easier way to become a hero.

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