New policy allows personal conscience on plasma, platelets and red and white blood cells
The Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses has announced a significant change to its policy on blood-related medical treatment, allowing individual members to decide according to personal conscience whether to accept or donate the four main components of blood.
The revised position covers plasma, platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells, according to an announcement issued by the organisation.
The change was reported on Friday, September 18, 2026, and represents a partial revision of the group’s longstanding position on blood transfusions.
Members given individual choice
Under the revised policy, Jehovah’s Witnesses may personally decide whether to accept treatments involving the four major blood components during medical or surgical care.
The organisation says the decision is now a matter for individual Christian conscience rather than a uniform prohibition.
Members may also decide whether to donate blood for processing into blood-derived medical products intended for use by other people.
Whole-blood transfusions remain prohibited
The change does not amount to a complete reversal of the organisation’s position on blood transfusions.
Jehovah’s Witnesses continue to oppose the transfusion of whole blood, and the new policy does not authorise members to accept whole-blood transfusions.
The organisation’s longstanding position is based on its interpretation of biblical instructions concerning abstaining from blood.
Second blood-policy change in 2026
The latest announcement follows another policy revision earlier in 2026 that allowed members to have their own blood stored for possible future medical treatment, although the earlier change did not permit blood to be stored for use by others.
The latest decision therefore expands the range of blood-related medical choices that individual Jehovah’s Witnesses can make according to conscience.
The policy change is likely to attract attention within and outside the organisation because blood transfusion has historically been one of the most distinctive areas of Jehovah’s Witness medical teaching.