Jehovah's Witnesses Ease Blood Ban Further, Allow Some Blood Products

Jehovah's Witnesses' opposition to blood transfusions is based on their interpretation of Bible texts that urge believers to "abstain" from blood.

In March this year, Jehovah's Witnesses relaxed their rules to allow the storage and use of their own blood for future medical treatment.

Now the movement says that members can receive plasma, platelets, and red and white blood cells, as well as medicines made from blood products.

The ban on whole blood transfusions, as well as on donating blood for whole blood transfusions, remains in place.