The 2026 Autologous Pivot: Progress, Accountability, and the Future of Blood Policy

The 2026 Autologous Pivot: Progress, Accountability, and the Future of Blood Policy

On March 20, 2026, the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses announced a significant revision to its long-standing medical guidance concerning blood. In Governing Body Update #2 (2026), delivered by Gerrit Lösch, the organization reclassified preoperative...
Navigating Blood Refusal: A Clinical Guide to Jehovah’s Witness Patients and Watchtower Policy

Navigating Blood Refusal: A Clinical Guide to Jehovah’s Witness Patients and Watchtower Policy

The Jehovah’s Witness blood policy is widely recognized in medicine for its conscientious objection to blood transfusions, a position rooted in their interpretation of biblical commands to “abstain from blood” (Acts 15:28–29). However, the current Jehovah’s...