jehovah witness beliefs blood transfusion

#Jehovah witness beliefs blood transfusion free

The Hospital Liaison Committees can arrange educational presentations for healthcare staff on Witness needs and the support that is available, as well as information on medical advances that have been pioneered using alternative non-blood medical management strategies.(Return to Summary of Essential Practice Points) They may also wish to listen to recordings of congregational meetings. Patients who are terminally ill will no doubt appreciate pastoral visits from their elders (ministers) and would be grateful for a place of quietness where they can pray together.

#Jehovah witness beliefs blood transfusion free

Generally religious practices are free of ceremony, ritual and symbols.A contact for the local Patient Visitation Group can be sourced from the local Hospital Liaison Committee. Patient Visitation Group members regularly visits hospitals in order to provide personal support and if necessary religious services to Witness patients.The contact details for these personnel are provided at the end of the section. There are eight Hospital Liaison Committees in the Irish State who are available at any time to provide support to a Witness undergoing medical procedures, guidance to the treating time, and to assist/mediate in the event of challenging situations.Hemodilution, a modified technique in which equipment is arranged in a circuit that is constantly linked to the patient's circulatory system.Transfusions of autologous blood part of a 'current therapy'.Blood donation strictly for purpose of further fractionation of red cells, white cells, platelets or plasma for either allogeneic or autologous transfusion.The following procedures are left to the decision of individual members: Members of the religion who voluntarily accept a transfusion are regarded as having disassociated themselves from the religion by abandoning its doctrines and are subsequently shunned by members of the organization.įor procedures where there is no specific doctrinal prohibition, individuals are to obtain details from medical personnel and then make a personal decision.

Transfusions of pre-operative autologous blood.

Transfusion of allogeneic whole blood, or of its constituents of red cells, white cells, platelets or plasma.

The following medical procedures are prohibited: Watch Tower Society publications teach that the Witnesses' refusal of transfusions of whole blood or its four primary components-red cells, white cells, platelets and plasma-is a non-negotiable religious stand and that those who respect life as a gift from God do not try to sustain life by taking in blood, even in an emergency.

A baptized Witness who unrepentantly accepts a blood transfusion is deemed to have disassociated himself from the religion by abandoning its doctrines and is subsequently subject to organized shunning by other members.

Blood leaving the body of a human or animal must be disposed of, except for autologous blood transfusions considered part of a current therapy.

Blood must not be eaten or transfused, even in the case of a medical emergency.

When a Christian abstains from blood, they are in effect expressing faith that only the shed blood of Jesus Christ can truly redeem them and save their life. After it has been removed from a creature, the only use of blood that God has authorized is for the atonement of sins.

Blood represents life and is sacred to God.Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the Bible (Genesis 9:4, Leviticus 17:10, and Acts 15:29) prohibits ingesting blood and that Christians should therefore not accept blood transfusions or donate or store their own blood for transfusion.