Blood Transfusion – Criminal Conduct Sanctioned

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The Watchtower organization sanctions criminal conduct by Jehovah’s Witnesses when it is an effort to “avoid a violation of God’s law on blood” or a “disclosure of confidential information” of a fellow Jehovah’s Witness for breaching “the superior demands of divine law,” such as conscientiously accepting blood transfusion.

When a minor child of one of Jehovah’s Witnesses is faced with a need for blood transfusion and parents refuse this therapy resulting in a court ordered transfusion, Watchtower teaching sanctions criminal conduct by the parents and other accomplices among Jehovah’s Witnesses who act to defy that court order.

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When one of Jehovah’s Witnesses employed by a hospital or doctor learns confidential patient information that a fellow member of the faith has conscientiously accepted blood transfusion, Watchtower teaching sanctions criminal conduct of that employee should they elect to disclose that information to a third-party known as congregation elders, which elders are authorized to use such information to initiate the religion’s organized communal shunning policy against the patient.

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Do Jehovah’s Witnesses react literally to such teaching from Watchtower?

Historically we find cases where Jehovah’s Witnesses were willing to act criminally in order to prevent blood being transfused to an unconscious family member who later informed hospital authorities she was not one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and would accept blood transfusion.[1]

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In 1981 Watchtower spoke approvingly of Jehovah’s Witnesses who acted in concert to prevent transfusion of a 3-year-old boy knowing their actions were criminal.

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More recently we find instance where Jehovah’s Witnesses reportedly acted in concert to prevent transfusion of a 5-year-old boy whose parents are Jehovah’s Witnesses.[1]

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This teaching by Watchtower and literal response by members of the community of Jehovah’s Witnesses demonstrates the coercive affect of Watchtower teaching on individuals in this religious community, and in this case to commit crime.[2]

Marvin Shilmer
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References:

1. In what appears to be a letter to the editor written by the Watchtower organization, details of this incident are disputed by Watchtower. This is availabe in the article RE: Jehovah couple disown son However, this response by Watchtower is no retraction of its positions presented above and published in its official journal The Watchtower during years 1987 and 1991.

2. For more on coercion of Jehovah’s Witnesses to conform to Watchtower’s blood doctrine see the articles and documentation at:

◄ Coercion to Refuse Blood

◄ Blood — What Happened at Watchtower in 1945?

◄ Blood — How Resolute?

◄ 80% Accept Blood Transfusion