Jehovah’s Witnesses have announced a significant change to their longstanding blood transfusion policy, allowing individual members to decide whether to receive four major components of donated blood during medical treatment.

The decision, announced by the organisation’s Governing Body on Friday, September 18, 2026, covers red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma and platelets.

However, the organisation has not lifted its prohibition on whole-blood transfusions. That distinction is central to understanding what has changed and what remains prohibited.

The announcement marks a shift from the organisation’s previous position, under which members were expected to refuse transfusions involving the four main blood components.

Under the revised policy, each member is responsible for deciding whether to accept any of those components from another person’s blood during medical or surgical treatment.

The organisation explained that its interpretation of the Bible does not specifically address the medical use of individual blood components, leaving the decision to personal conscience.

Paul Gillies, the international spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses, said the organisation continues to regard blood and life as sacred gifts from God.

He explained that decisions involving blood components are matters of personal conscience between individual members and God.

The organisation also made clear that congregations would not interfere with decisions that fall within this personal responsibility.

What has changed about blood donation?

The revised position extends beyond receiving blood components.

Jehovah’s Witnesses may now individually decide whether to donate blood specifically for processing into components or fractions that will be used to treat another person.

This does not mean members have been given the same freedom to donate blood for every possible medical purpose.

According to the organisation’s updated guidance, donating blood for use as a whole-blood transfusion remains prohibited.

The distinction is important because blood collected from donors can be processed into separate products for different medical treatments.

Under the new policy, a Witness may decide to donate blood for that specific processing purpose while another member may choose not to do so.

The organisation says neither decision should be judged by fellow members.

Why whole-blood transfusions remain prohibited

Jehovah’s Witnesses have long interpreted the biblical instruction to abstain from blood, found in Acts 15:20, as applying to whole-blood transfusions.

That interpretation has shaped the organisation’s approach to medical treatment for decades.

Although its Governing Body has now extended personal choice to the four primary blood components, it has maintained the religious prohibition on receiving whole blood.

This means it would be inaccurate to say that Jehovah’s Witnesses have removed all restrictions on blood transfusions.

A member may personally decide to receive red blood cells, for example, without that decision extending to a transfusion of whole blood.

How the new policy differs from the March 2026 change

The September announcement follows another adjustment made earlier this year.

On March 20, 2026, the Governing Body clarified that individual members could decide whether to have their own blood removed, stored and later returned to them during medical or surgical care.

That earlier decision concerned a patient's own blood rather than blood received from another donor.

The latest announcement extends the principle of individual choice to red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma and platelets obtained from someone else's blood.

The organisation had previously treated the use of certain smaller products derived from blood, known as blood fractions, as a matter of personal conscience.

The September adjustment therefore brings the four main blood components within a category of medical decisions that individual members can make for themselves.

What the change means for patients and doctors

The policy change could affect treatment discussions involving Jehovah’s Witness patients who require blood products during surgery, following an accident or while receiving care for certain medical conditions.

Red blood cells, plasma and platelets have different medical uses, and the component required depends on a patient's condition.

The new position means that doctors should not automatically assume that a Jehovah’s Witness patient will reject every blood component.

However, the policy does not mean that every member will accept them.

Some may decide to receive certain components while refusing others, and some may continue to reject all blood-derived products.

The organisation has encouraged members to carefully consider their individual decisions and has indicated that updated medical guidance will be made available.

For patients, the practical implication is that decisions about specific blood products should be discussed clearly with their treating medical team, with their individual wishes and the medical circumstances taken into account.

For Jehovah’s Witnesses, the central change is that accepting or declining the four main blood components is now an individual decision rather than a restriction applied to all members.

The organisation's position on whole-blood transfusions, however, remains unchanged.