Jehovah’s Witnesses update blood transfusion policy, now allow use of stored own blood in medical procedures

Jehovah’s Witnesses have revised their policy on blood transfusions to allow members to have their own blood removed, stored, and reinfused during medical procedures. This change enables members to receive transfusions of their own blood, such as during planned surgeries, while continuing to prohibit transfusions of blood from other donors.

Gerrit Losch, a member of the group’s leadership, stated that “each Christian must decide for himself how his blood will be used in medical and surgical care.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses is a Christian religious movement known for door-to-door evangelism. The organization reports approximately 144,000 active members in the UK and around nine million worldwide. The group has traditionally prohibited members from accepting blood transfusions, citing biblical passages from both the Old and New Testaments that they interpret as instructing followers to abstain from blood. A spokesperson confirmed that “our core belief regarding the sanctity of blood remains unchanged.”

Some former members have criticized the change, arguing that it does not fully allow members to accept life-saving transfusions in certain circumstances. Mitch Melon told the LA Times that the policy “does not grant them complete freedom of conscience to accept potentially life-saving interventions involving donated blood,” particularly in medical emergencies or for children needing multiple transfusions to treat conditions like cancer.

In December 2025, an Edinburgh court ruled that doctors could administer a blood transfusion to a 14-year-old Jehovah’s Witness if it became necessary during an operation. The girl initially refused the transfusion due to her religious beliefs, but the court determined that the procedure could go ahead if it was in her best interests, with Judge Lady Tait noting the need to give “appropriate weight to her views.”