Jehovah’s Witnesses’ blood transfusion policy still ‘confusing’ and deadly – Humanist group says
By OLAYINKA LATONA
LAGOS, Nigeria — The Humanist Enabling Life Project (HELP) has accused Jehovah’s Witnesses of maintaining a contradictory and dangerous blood transfusion policy, saying the organization’s decision to allow members to accept some blood components on “personal conscience” while keeping its ban on whole-blood transfusions is confusing and continues to cost lives.
In a statement signed by Leo Igwe, director of HELP, the group said it welcomed the September 18, 2026 announcement by the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses but warned that the move did not go far enough.
According to Jehovah Witness Governing Body, the decision to accept red cells, white cells, plasma or platelets from another person’s blood is a matter of personal conscience, and that each member would decide whether to donate blood for the purpose of providing components or fractions for use by another person. But it added: “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.”
HELP said that position remains a serious threat to public health worldwide.
“Jehovah’s Witnesses should stop approbating and reprobating on blood transfusion. Its ban on blood transfusion is a harmful health policy that has had an adverse health effect on people,” Igwe said. “Stating that the organization still maintains its ban on blood transfusion while allowing it on personal grounds is confusing. It is an indication that the Jehovah’s Witnesses have not realized their grievous mistake.”
Igwe who is also Vice President, Humanist International lamented that the policy has led to the death and health impairment of many people around the globe, and that the organization should acknowledge it has erred and misled members over the years.
“Jehovah’s Witnesses’ controversial and despicable policy on blood transfusion has cost so many lives,” he said. “Jehovah’s Witnesses should rescind the ban without reservation and apologize to the world.”
HELP also cited a case last year in Calabar, Nigeria, where it said the Basic Rights Counsel obtained a court order to treat a baby who needed a blood transfusion. According to the group, Jehovah’s Witnesses officers at the clinic connived and pressured the parent to get the baby discharged against medical advice.
“No one knows what eventually happened to the baby; whether the baby died or survived,” the statement said. “There have been many cases where children died because their JW parents or family members denied them blood transfusion.”
HELP said it does not want a mere easing of the prohibition. It wants Jehovah’s Witnesses to rescind the ban entirely and issue an express apology for the damage caused.
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