Although it is well known that orthodox Jehovah's Witnesses may not accept blood transfusions, even when medically necessary to save life, it is less clear whether artificial blood based on hemoglobin extracted from outdated human blood will be acceptable to Jehovah's Witnesses when these products become commonly available in the next several years.
Until recently, it appeared that such artificial blood would be banned for Jehovah's Witnesses. For instance, consider the comments of Richard Bailey and Tomonori Ariga who, writing in an official capacity in 1998, explained Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society policy to the medical community: "Jehovah's Witnesses do not accept whole blood, or major components of blood, namely, red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma. Also they do not accept hemoglobin which is a major part of red blood cells ... According to these principles then, Jehovah's Witnesses do not accept a blood substitute which uses hemoglobin taken from a human or animal source."1 Recently, however, there has been an important but subtle change in Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society policy.2 Whereas the Society had previously permitted Jehovah's Witnesses to accept fractions of blood plasma, it appears that they may now accept fractions of all "primary" components. The Society defines primary components as red cells, white cells, platelets and plasma.
This policy seems to open the door to the use of hemoglobin-based blood substitutes for Jehovah's Witnesses. This would be expected to save a sizeable number of lives annually. More information is available at www.ajwrb.org, the Web site of Associated Jehovah's Witnesses for Reform on Blood.
Signature
D. John Doyle
Department of Anesthesia Toronto General Hospital Toronto, Ont