Hi BluesBrother,
I (obviously) have strong emotions on this topic and perhaps I wasn't very nice in my reply. I'm sorry if I wasn't.
I was referring to the secret F8 permissions written about by Ray Franz, and the fact that even when the official position was "conscience matter", we were still told point blank it is not ok to take F8. This was stated in conferences with elders, at assemblies and meetings.
When it was 'officially ok', it would get you a marking talk and bloodguilt for stumbling others (which of course we know means jehoopla will execute you).
When it was officially 'not ok', you would get disfellowshipped (and executed).
The only course of action that would avoid execution and congregational punishment was to refuse F8.
At one point, the position was reversed but not published, and wts called congregations they knew of who had hemophiliacs to tell them privately it was ok to take their medicine again.
Either I was not 'known' or the elders in my congregation opted to not tell me.
So there is a bit more to the story than what is published in the literature.