Watchtower Lawyer Says No Probing

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Writing about Jehovah’s Witnesses, blood transfusion and patient privacy, one of Watchtower’s lawyers named Donald Ridley writes the following[1]:

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According to this Watchtower lawyer, elders have never been instructed to probe into the health care decision by a Jehovah’s Witness who conscientiously chose to accept transfusion of blood. Watchtower appointed elders will probably find this surprising given what Watchtower instructed them to do in its then current handbook for congregation elders.

Here is what Watchtower instructed elders to do[2]:

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If a private decision secretly made to accept blood transfusion is considered a grave sin then Watchtower has instructed its elders to investigate this if/when a substantive accusation is made that the individual did make such a private decision. This was Watchtower policy at the time of Ridley’s statement quoted above.

According to Watchtower doctrine the health care decision to conscientiously accept transfusion of blood is grave sin[3-4]; hence Watchtower’s instruction above tells elders they are responsible to investigate such a private health care decision if they are made aware of, including by a means other than confession.

So did Watchtower’s lawyer tell the truth? Readers can decide that for themselves.

Marvin Shilmer
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References:

1. Donald Ridley, Jehovah's Witnesses' refusal of blood: obedience to scripture and religious conscience, Journal of Medical Ethics, 1999;25:469-472.

2. Pay Attention to Yourselves and All the Flock, handbook for elders published by Watchtower, 1991 p. 97.

3. “Appreciation for this value helps Jehovah’s Witnesses to be resolved not to misuse blood, even if a physician sincerely claims that a transfusion is vital. He may believe that potential benefits of a transfusion outweigh the health risks posed by the blood itself. But the Christian cannot ignore an even graver risk, the risk of losing God’s approval by agreeing to a misuse of blood. Paul once spoke of those who “practice sin willfully after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth.” Why was any sin of that sort so serious? Because such a man “has trampled upon the Son of God and . . . has esteemed as of ordinary value the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified.”—(The Watchtower, June 15, 1991 p. 15)

4. “If a Christian is guilty of serious sin, be it lying, fraud, sexual immorality, or other grave wrongs, repentance and works befitting repentance are vital. (Acts 26:20) Commendably, some have acted to ‘set matters straight between them and Jehovah.’ For example, The Watchtower of April 15, 1985, discussed the matter of rectifying faults that might be secret to outsiders but are observed by God. (Matthew 6:6; Philippians 4:13) Three areas for attention were mentioned: secretly accepting a blood transfusion, masturbation, and alcohol abuse. After considering that material, quite a number of readers wrote letters of appreciation; they admitted that they had had those faults, but they had been moved to repent and change.”—(The Watchtower, October 15, 1987, p. 14)

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