JW.org Global News (press release), “Jehovah’s Witnesses: Each Witness Now Decides Whether to Accept or Donate Main Blood Components”

JW.org Global News (press release), “Jehovah’s Witnesses: Each Witness Now Decides Whether to Accept or Donate Main Blood Components”

18 September 2026 · Office of Public Information, Jehovah’s Witnesses (Paul Gillies quoted) · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania

“The Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses announced on Friday that the decision to accept red cells, white cells, plasma or platelets from another person's blood is a matter of personal conscience. Likewise, each Witness must decide whether or not to donate blood for the clearly expressed purpose of providing components or fractions for use by another person. … The long-standing refusal of whole-blood transfusions on religious grounds, a core teaching based on the command to 'abstain from blood' (Acts 15:20), is unchanged.”

Datelined Warwick, N.Y., 18 September 2026. International spokesman Paul Gillies is quoted: 'Blood remains sacred to Jehovah's Witnesses, who continue to regard life and blood as precious gifts from God. We recognize that medical decisions involving blood components are a matter of conscience between each Witness and their God, Jehovah.' The release says Witnesses 'number over nine million worldwide across more than 200 lands'.

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