Jehovah’s Witnesses have announced a major clarification to their long-standing position on blood use in medical care, granting members the right to decide how their own blood is handled during procedures.
In a video statement released on Friday, Gerrit Lösch said the updated guidance allows individual Christians to make personal decisions about the use of their own blood during surgery or treatment.
He stressed that the core doctrine remains unchanged—members must still abstain from receiving another person’s blood.
“The Bible does not comment on using one’s own blood in medical care,” Lösch explained, noting that the clarification is aimed at giving believers freedom of conscience in such situations.
According to him, Jehovah’s Witnesses can now decide whether their blood may be removed, stored, and returned during medical procedures. This includes treatments such as blood tests, heart-lung machine use, cell salvage techniques, and kidney dialysis—procedures already accepted by many adherents.
“Each Christian must make his personal decision on all matters involving the use of his own blood,” he added.
The prohibition on transfusions from others remains a defining belief of the faith, rooted in biblical passages including Genesis 9:4, Leviticus 17:10, Deuteronomy 12:23, and Acts 15:28–29, which instruct believers to abstain from blood.
The issue has remained controversial, particularly in medical emergencies. In December 2025, Mensha Omotola Esther, popularly known as Aunty Esther, reportedly died after declining a blood transfusion during treatment for breast cancer as a Jehovah’s Witness.
The new clarification is expected to provide greater flexibility for members navigating complex medical decisions while maintaining the religion’s doctrinal stance.
