{
  "id": 8494573,
  "title": "Jehovah’s Witnesses modify Blood Rules, Allow Personal Choice",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/jehovahs-witnesses-modify-blood-rules-allow-personal-choice",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-19T15:22:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Trust",
    "slug": "daily-trust",
    "url": "https://dailytrust.com/jehovahs-witnesses-modify-blood-rules-allow-personal-choice/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a policy adjustment, the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses has relaxed its stance on blood, allowing members to decide for themselves whether to accept or donate four major blood components - red cells, white cells, plasma, or platelets. This change was announced by the organization's World Headquarters in Warwick, New York, and published on their website on Friday. According to the organization, this decision is a matter of personal conscience for each member. Members can also choose to donate blood specifically to provide these components for others. However, the organization clarified that this adjustment does not change its long-standing opposition to whole-blood transfusions, which is based on the religious belief of abstaining from blood as stated in Acts 15:20. Paul Gillies, an international spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses, emphasized that the group still considers blood as sacred and that decisions involving blood components are a personal matter between each Witness and their God, Jehovah. The policy change followed earlier updates related to blood fractions and the use of a person's own blood in medical procedures. The Bible does not specifically address these decisions, so they are seen as matters of individual conscience. Jehovah’s Witnesses continue to seek medical treatment, provided it aligns with their personal values and beliefs, instead of relying on faith healing. Local congregations will not intervene in members' personal decisions regarding blood components, and the organization expressed its commitment to respecting and supporting these personal choices. With over nine million members worldwide across more than 200 countries and territories, Jehovah’s Witnesses continue to uphold their religious principles while adapting to modern medical practices.",
  "summary": "The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses has relaxed its policy on blood, allowing members to decide according to their personal conscience whether to accept or donate four major blood components. The organisation announced the adjustment in a statement issued by its World Headquarters in Warwick, New York, and published on its website on Friday. […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}