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Blood doctrine · Claim record

In July 1951 The Watchtower argued that a patient receiving a transfusion 'is eating it through his veins', treating transfusion as equivalent to eating blood.

Claim ID claim-blood-1951-eating-through-veinsConcerns 1 July 1951Explicit statement
Explicit statement · 1 July 1951 Verified

In July 1951 The Watchtower argued that a patient receiving a transfusion 'is eating it through his veins', treating transfusion as equivalent to eating blood. The Watchtower, 1 July 1951

Show the evidence (1 source)
Primary JW publication Verified

The Watchtower, “Questions From Readers”

1 July 1951 · pp.414-416 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society

“Hence the attendant administering the transfusion is feeding the patient blood through the veins, and the patient receiving it is eating it through his veins.”

Answering 'Many say receiving a transfusion is not like eating blood. Is this view sound?'. p. 416 adds: 'Jehovah's witnesses do not oppose the people's use of transfusions, but allow each one the right to decide for himself what he can conscientiously do.' No congregational sanction is mentioned.

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Opened on WOL; wording, date and pages confirmed.

Notes. The 'each one … decide for himself' sentence is addressed to the public's use; do not over-read it as a formal members' conscience rule.

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-w-1951-0701-qfr-transfusion

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