Last verified: November 7, 2026, at 17:09 UTC (UTC+00:00).
Jehovah’s Witnesses decline transfusions of whole blood because they understand the Bible’s instruction to abstain from blood as applying to medical treatment. They regard blood as sacred and associate it with life, which they see as a gift from God.
There is an important recent change: on September 18, 2026, the faith’s governing body announced that accepting the four main components of donated blood—red cells, white cells, plasma and platelets—is a matter for each Witness’s personal conscience. Its position against whole-blood transfusions remains unchanged. For patients and clinicians, the practical implication is to discuss each treatment individually rather than assume what a patient will accept. Read the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ announcement.
Destaques
Before the September announcement, the faith’s position generally excluded transfusions of both whole blood and its four primary components. The new guidance extends individual decision-making to those components. It does not mean that every Jehovah’s Witness will accept them: one patient may consent to a component while another may decline it.
The announcement also says that each Witness decides whether to donate blood specifically to provide components or fractions for another person. It describes the change as an extension of an existing approach to blood fractions and certain procedures involving a patient’s own blood.
A University Hospital Southampton clinical law update confirms the change. Some older hospital policies and religious publications still describe the previous position, so their lists of prohibited components may no longer reflect the 2026 announcement. The patient’s current, informed decision remains essential.
Jehovah’s Witnesses point to passages including Acts 15:20, which instructs Christians to abstain from blood, and Leviticus 17:11, which connects life with blood. They interpret these passages as requiring them to refuse whole blood by transfusion as well as to avoid consuming blood.
Blood transfusion as a medical procedure did not exist when those texts were written. The connection between the biblical instruction and modern transfusion is therefore a matter of religious interpretation. Other Christians may understand the same passages differently.
For Witnesses, the decision is rooted in obedience to God and respect for the sacred value they attach to blood. The organization says its members value life, seek medical care and do not practice faith healing. Declining a particular treatment should not be taken to mean that a patient wants to die or refuses all medical help.
Whole blood contains red and white blood cells, platelets and plasma. These components can also be separated and given individually for different medical needs. Under the September 2026 guidance, each Witness makes a personal decision about receiving those four donated components.
Blood fractions are substances derived from the main components. Examples include albumin, immunoglobulins and some clotting factors. Decisions about these products have also been left to individual conscience. A patient’s preferences may differ from one product to another, so a broad label such as “no blood” may not communicate every choice.
Procedures involving a patient’s own blood, such as cell salvage during surgery, can also require an individual decision. The method matters: patients should ask the clinical team to explain how blood is collected, handled and returned, and whether the procedure is acceptable to them. No clinician or family member should assume that a particular procedure is acceptable solely because another Witness agreed to it.
Depending on the condition and the time available, a care team may discuss measures to reduce blood loss or improve blood counts. Examples include treating anemia before an operation, using medicines to reduce bleeding when appropriate, careful surgical techniques and, if the patient agrees, cell salvage. The right options depend on the procedure, the patient’s health and which treatments the patient accepts.
These measures are not interchangeable substitutes for every transfusion. In a severe hemorrhage or other emergency, declining a recommended blood treatment can increase the risk of serious harm or death. A clinician can explain the expected benefits and risks of each available option. Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust advises patients to tell staff about their wishes early so treatment can be planned.
A patient expecting surgery or another procedure can ask for a conversation with the treating team about whole blood, individual components, fractions and techniques involving their own blood. They can ask for their choices to be recorded in their medical notes and consent documents. If their wishes change, they should tell the team promptly.
In England and Wales, an adult can make an advance decision to refuse specified treatment if they later lose the capacity to make that decision. A valid, applicable advance decision can be legally binding. To refuse potentially life-sustaining treatment, it must be written, signed and witnessed, and state that the refusal applies even if life is at risk. The NHS guide to advance decisions explains the requirements. Rules and processes differ across UK jurisdictions, so patients should seek local guidance.
For children, decisions can involve different legal considerations and depend on the circumstances. Families should discuss a child’s care with the treating team as early as possible. If requested, a Jehovah’s Witness Hospital Liaison Committee may help with information and communication.
The 2026 change may give some patients and clinicians more options, but its effect on individual decisions is not yet clear. Existing advance documents may need a review with a clinician to ensure they still reflect the person’s wishes.
No. The faith’s position remains against whole-blood transfusion, but each Witness now decides personally whether to accept the four main donated blood components.
Yes. Jehovah’s Witnesses seek medical care and may have surgery. The patient and clinical team should agree in advance on acceptable treatments and a plan for possible bleeding.
Yes. A patient who has capacity can change their decision and should tell the medical team immediately so the care plan and records can be updated.
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