Blood Transfusions

Jehovah's Witnesses maintain an absolute doctrinal prohibition on receiving blood transfusions of whole blood or its four primary components (red cells, white cells, platelets, and plasma), based on their interpretation of the biblical commands to 'abstain from blood' (Acts 15:28-29; Acts 21:25) and not to eat blood (Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:14). They extend the alimentary prohibition on consuming blood to the medical use of blood transfusions, arguing that 'taking blood into one's body' violates the same divine principle regardless of the method. This position applies equally to adults making decisions for themselves and to parents making decisions for their minor children.

Each congregation maintains a Hospital Liaison Committee to assist members in finding bloodless surgical alternatives and to communicate their religious objection to physicians and hospitals. Members are expected to carry signed medical advance directives refusing transfusions. Certain 'blood fractions' (albumin, clotting factors, immunoglobulins, hemoglobin-based products) are considered a matter of personal conscience. The prohibition has resulted in documented deaths of both adults and children who refused transfusions in life-threatening situations, and has generated ongoing legal controversy in many jurisdictions regarding parental rights and children's welfare.