The first definition for a Martyr means that you suffer (not necessarily die) for a principle, usually religious (but not necessarily so). Although one who dies for their country is considered a patriot, they are, technically, a martyr as well. The second definition mentions dying for a religious belief.
Your question is excellent, as it begs at the very base of religion. Were Job's children martyrs? How about Abel, Cain, all the rest of us poor slobs, who are condemned to die. It may not be our principle that we are getting whacked for, and we certainly don't have a choice in the matter, but it seems like we're all dying because of some principle that was struck up back in the GOE. It would seem that a person who decided to take blood and keep living (or any other sane medical procedure), is no more or less a martyr than the goober who refuses the blood and takes the Big Sleep.
Which is why the whole martyr thing (as pretty much all of religion) is rendered meaningless. Does the man who decides to take the blood and keep on living so his children will have a father, his wife have a husband, perform any less of a sacrifice than the man who takes a bullet for them? Wow, what a pain in the ass God is gonna have when that guy comes up for ressurrection/parole: Well, lets see here. Oooops, looks like you took blood! Now, that's a major biggy! But, hmmm, seems like you did it to help other people, which means you were willing to give up everlasting life for another person. Theres a precedent here, oh yes, no greater sacrifice has a man than one who gives up his life for his brother. Oh, there's the loophole. None of those people were your brother. ZZZZAAaaaaaappp! Next!!!
