What will Jehovah witness have instead of blood transfusions?

Jehovah's Witnesses have a religious objection to blood transfusions, believing that it is forbidden in the Bible. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that when the Christian Scriptures speak of “abstinence from…blood” (Acts 15:20, 29), they are talking about transfusing whole blood or any of its four main components—red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma—into one’s veins. However there are some medical options they will allow such as:

* Bloodless surgery techniques. These techniques use a variety of methods to minimize blood loss during surgery, and may include:

- using special surgical instruments and techniques to reduce bleeding

- using blood-saving medications

- pre-donating your own blood to be transfused back to you during surgery

* Non-blood alternatives to blood transfusions. These alternatives may include:

- saline solution

- colloids (plasma substitutes)

- hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers

- intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)

- erythropoietin (EPO)

The decision of whether or not to have a blood transfusion is a personal one. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that it is important to follow the Bible’s direction to avoid blood.