Blood, Medicine and Jehovah's Witnesses

1991 Hospital Liaison Committees

The March 1991 Kingdom Ministry (a monthly ministry sheet for baptised Witnesses only) contained an insert entitled "Are You Ready to Face a Faith Challenging Medical Situation?" The KM had a 4 page insert that the Witnesses were told to "keep in a safe place" in case of emergency. All family members were reminded to complete, sign and date a medical directive document / card. This included unbaptised children's identity cards.

The article tends to take a more aggressive line, covering subjects such as

20 such committees are reported to have been set up in Britain. The article tells Witnesses how they should answer certain questions. I do not doubt their sincerity, but given the possible outcome, it is wrong for the society to "put words" into their members' mouths to the extent that this KM insert does.

For example; It suggests that, if a Witness is being questioned by a judge, they say that a blood transfusion would affect them in the same way as being raped. (IF that analogy is true, then surely it is for the individual to make and voice it)

Some Witnesses were probably, in the past, secretly relieved when a court took the decision out of their hands and ordered a transfusion for their child or loved one. Following the suggested "answers to loaded questions" in the KM insert will not help the Witness with any secret doubts. It encourages Witness families to "rehearse their answers" to any tricky questions that doctors or judges may ask them.

The entire insert article is reproduced in the Appendix