JW remark about blood transfusion

Gorbatchov

Recent I had a conversation with an old JW friend. He told me his mother rejected a blood transfusion in a critical fase, and survived it, and of course it's good to hear that she makes it good now.

What me triggered, was a remark he made about what the elder of the hospital committee told him.

This elder praised the mother of my old friend because of rejecting the transfusion. The elder told them that most Jehovah's Witness in the Netherlands take a blood transfusion when their life is at stake. And that here rejection is with that in mind a good and rare example.

So, my observation is that although the doctrine is still there, most witnesses in more "individual" cultures like here in Holland choose to make their own decision.

G.

slimboyfat

A school friend's father was a colorectal surgeon. He told me that many JWs accepted he would "avoid" blood as best he could and only use it if life was in danger.

A sister in the congregation told me about a similar conversation she had with a surgeon when her non-JW husband needed surgery.

I vaguely remember academic data that also indicated a high level of noncompliance with the no blood policy. Predictably JWs have disputed it, if I remember right.

I think many JWs will say no to blood initially, but be prepared to accept if really necessary. I think that would have been my position even when I believed it. That assumes you're still awake and able to make the decision, of course.

There has also been the suggestion that in some countries the state insists on blood for minors and that JW parents are generally happy for that to happen because it absolves them of responsibility for the decision.

You certainly don't get stories in the WT or Awake! about abducting children from the hospital any more.

Chook

The are cemeteries full of strict adherence JWs. We had a JW elders wife get special cutting edge blood faction that was made from cows blood ,an army developed product flown into Australia. This JW woman blood count was under 2, she lived. The irony is animal blood to the rescue. The only reason they saved her was connections,her husband is hospital liaison . You will never see in JW publications reasoning that Jah allowed soldiers to disregard blood law and eat unbled animals in an emergency or that Christ said life was more important law, in the example of sheep in well.

OrphanCrow

Chook: We had a JW elders wife get special cutting edge blood faction that was made from cows blood ,an army developed product flown into Australia. This JW woman blood count was under 2, she lived. The irony is animal blood to the rescue. The only reason they saved her was connections,her husband is hospital liaison

I have read about this case in medical literature.

You bring up some critical points about the case.

First, we only ever hear about the successes. We don't hear about the ones for whom the procedure/product failed.

Another irony is that the product used in this case, Hemopure, was only available because it was still used for military research in the USA. The trials for this product have already been stopped by the FDA. Available only to....JWs for "compassionate use". And funded by the US defense department...to develop protocols and products for trauma response.

And about the animal blood...there are documented cases where the HLC arranged for JW patients to receive the other artificial blood that was on the market - Polyheme - made from human blood.

And, like you pointed out, this woman was only able to receive Hemopure because of her connections being married to a HLC bigshot. This product would not be available to just any lowly JW. As much as the JWs believe that "oh...we can have artificial blood now! and bloodless surgery!!!"...I say, good luck with that. You better have some serious money and good connections to access it.

Crazyguy

Chook. It was finding out about the use of cows blood and its acceptance that made me finally leave the cult. I was awake and studying about blood and all thier other doctrines breaking them all down using the bible. Realizing all the ones that did not taking blood but others after 2006 that lived do to products like this and the fact that WT allowed it was discusting and still is.

SAHS

“Gorbatchov”: “So, my observation is that although the doctrine is still there, most witnesses in more "individual" cultures like here in Holland choose to make their own decision.”

That is the way it is in reality. But the WT tries to make everyone, including their own members as well as the general public, think that by far the vast majority of JWs always remain united and loyal to the organization, even to death. However, the WT will never allow an accurate picture of the situation to become known. (And don’t even dare say the word “Bulgaria”!)

Vidiot

Ten bucks says that most of the JWs who quietly accept a transfusion are still-in TTATTers.

Ain't no resistance like passive resistance. :smirk: