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Blood doctrine · Claim record

In June 1978 The Watchtower placed serums used against diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis, rabies, haemophilia and Rh incompatibility in a 'gray area' to be 'resolved by each individual on a personal basis'.

Claim ID claim-blood-1978-serums-grey-areaConcerns 15 June 1978Explicit statement
Explicit statement · 15 June 1978 Verified

In June 1978 The Watchtower placed serums used against diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis, rabies, haemophilia and Rh incompatibility in a 'gray area' to be 'resolved by each individual on a personal basis'. The Watchtower, 15 June 1978

Show the evidence (1 source)
Primary JW publication Verified

The Watchtower, “Questions From Readers”

15 June 1978 · pp.29-31 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society

“This seems to fall into a “gray area.” Some Christians believe that accepting a small amount of a blood derivative for such a purpose would not be a manifestation of disrespect for God's law.”

Question: 'Are serum injections compatible with Christian belief?' — serums against diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis, rabies, haemophilia and Rh incompatibility; 'this question must be resolved by each individual on a personal basis'. Transfusion 'or the use of a blood component to accomplish a similar purpose' remains in conflict with 'abstain … from blood'.

Official source

Provenance and verification note

Confidence note. Opened on WOL; note pages are 29-31 (not 30-31).

Notes. Earliest verified statement covering haemophilia preparations; the alleged 1 Jun 1975 QFR was not found.

Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID. src-w-1978-0615-qfr-serums

Claim page

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