Jehovah’s Witnesses have updated part of their teaching on blood transfusion, now allowing members to decide for themselves whether their own blood can be taken, stored, and later used during medical treatment.
In a video shared on Friday, Gerrit Lösch, a member of the church governing body, said the change highlights the importance of personal choice when it comes to handling one’s own blood.
He explained that the church’s long-held rule against using donated blood from others has not changed.
Members are still expected to avoid such transfusions based on their understanding of the Bible.
However, the organisation said the Bible does not clearly address situations where a person’s own blood is used during medical procedures.
Because of this, members are now free to make their own decisions on whether their blood can be collected and reused during treatment.
The church stressed that this is a personal matter, and individuals may come to different decisions depending on their beliefs and understanding of scripture.
While the general teaching about avoiding blood remains in place, Jehovah’s Witnesses said choices about personal medical care, especially involving one’s own blood, should be made individually after careful thought and prayer.
The church still does not permit transfusions using another person’s blood but recognises that members may make personal decisions in critical medical situations.
This update comes as more medical technologies, such as blood-saving procedures and machines that circulate a patient’s own blood during surgery, become widely used.
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