JW: So we do not take blood into our body. (ref Acts 15 v 29)
Me: So what about fractions?
JW: They're not blood. It's down to your bible-trained conscience.
Me: Aren't Plasma, Red Cells, White Cells and Platelets simply fractions?
JW: (Cough) Err, well the Faithful and Discreet Slave says they aren't allowed.
Me: On what scriptural basis?
JW: (Cough, Cough) Umm ... well err...
Me: What happens if I choose to take one of those fractions?
JW: Umm, errr, you will be viewed as having Disassociated yourself.
Me: Not Disfellowshipped? You used to be Disfellowshipped - not that the end result of being shunned is any different.
JW: Umm ... well now only two elders deal with it. It's not judicial ...
Me: But the result of being shunned is just the same. Is that because in Bulgaria the Watchtower wanted to get round being a banned religon?
JW: Umm ... err... (shuffling from foot to foot)
Me: Now talk to me about "Hemopure" - why is that large fraction of haemogoblin from bovine blood a conscience matter with no sanctions? Why can JW's have that as part of a clinical trial in Europe or in South Africa?
JW: Umm ...
Me: I mean if you visited a very sick Circuit Overseer in Cape Town Groote Schuur Hospital he might have a bag of Hemopure up by his bed. It's red in colour - it looks just like whole blood. Wouldn't you be stumbled? And why couldn't little Sister Babyblead or poor Luke Heemya have one of the four "not-allowed" components to save their lives?
JW: Well we don't rely on human reasonings we just rely on what the "Faithful and Discreet Slave" tell us. They are accountable to God.
Me: And Jehovah's Witnesses may pay with their lives? No - forget human reasonings - give me a scriptural reason why one fraction is chosen as permissable and one isn't? Is that not going beyond the things written?
JW: Well ... ha ha ... err ... if the Governing Body say it's OK then that is fine by me.
Me: Isn't that how low-ranking Nazi's justified their disgraceful conduct?
JW: You're just being an apostate! (Runs away shouting "Lalalalala ... "with his/her hands over their ears.)