Jehovah's Witnesses and blood transfusions

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Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the Bible prohibits Christians from accepting transfusion of another person's whole blood. Their literature states that "abstaining from blood" means "not to eat blood or accept a blood transfusion". For many years, transfusion of individual blood components, including packed red blood cells, blood plasma, or platelets were specifically forbidden. Transfusion of one's own blood was also prohibited until March 2026. As of September 2026, they no longer prohibit individual blood components, and members may donate blood components for use by others. Their interpretation of scripture is unusual and is one of the doctrines for which Jehovah's Witnesses are best known. Their literature teaches that refusal of transfusions of whole blood 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 2016 medical review cited an estimate of approximately 1,000 deaths annually...

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