Jehovah’s Witnesses, particularly those in positions of oversight, need to fully come to grips with the toll in human lives and suffering the Watchtower’s bizarre policies on blood have amassed over the past sixty or seventy years.
In this section we will examine some of the stories that illustrate the impact the policy has had on those indoctrinated, unduly influenced and in some cases coerced by Watchtower leaders.
A Life-Threatening Upbringing
By Beninu Andersen I am a 4th generation Jehovah's Witness who disassociated 18 years ago in 2001. My father was a major figure in the organization—a computer science professor who developed software for translating the New World Translation into Danish and other...
When Belief Overrules Survival
As told by Charise Mayhay My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and although medical options were available that could have prolonged—or even saved—her life, she refused surgery. Her decision wasn’t based on a fear of medicine or lack of information. It was...
Family Choices, Silent Heroes — Grandpa Gust’s life was saved by his nephew
As a little girl, I observed that my Grandpa Gust had a damaged eye. I was told the story of his accident many times — how he had almost died, but a talented brain surgeon saved his life. However, I never knew the full story … until now. I am a 4th-generation...
Tell Your Story – Honor Their Sacrifice – Help Save Lives
Need to remain anonymous? AJWRB will protect your identity.The Impact of Watchtower's Blood Policy We are documenting the impact of the Watchtower's blood transfusion policy on Jehovah's Witnesses and their families. Our mission is to honor the memory of those who...
Kalila Danisi – The Heartache and History of the Jehovah’s Witness Blood Doctrine
Kalila Danisi Is it truly acceptable for a 20-year-old to die from a potentially preventable cause? This question compels me to stop procrastinating and write about the poignant ethical dilemma faced by Jehovah’s Witnesses regarding blood transfusions. Interestingly,...
Components of Blood are the Issue
By Dieter Parczany During the early 1990's, I was a member of the Hospital Liaison Committee (HLC) in Berlin, Germany. Since I was a Jehovah’s Witness elder with special training and knowledge about Watchtower's blood policies, I served as the chairman of the...
Personal Research on Blood Transfusions May Have Saved My Life
By Tami Davis on September 29, 2019 Before telling you my story, you should know that I was born to Jehovah's Witness parents and baptized at twelve-years of age. Like all Witnesses, I was well-versed in the No-Blood doctrine. My parents had practice sessions with me...
Hematologist Helps Open the Eyes of Pregnant JW
I looked forward to the birth of my third child. I had decided on a surgical birth (my third cesarean). Since each subsequent cesarean is more likely to become complicated, I would be at a higher risk of blood loss during and after the operation, and as an active...
Chaunte Cardwell – from Near Death to Freedom
Shortly after I was born, my parents decided to become Jehovah’s Witnesses. My dad was an elder, and everyone in our family pioneered during the summer while I was growing up. I was baptized in 1986 at thirteen years of age, in Ogden, Utah. We were the picture-perfect...
Former HLC Chairman’s Confession: A Victim Can Become Guilty of Harming Others
This article borrows from chapter seven of "Acquiring Freedom From Fundamentalist Religious Thinking" written by Dieter Parczany (under his pen name Peter Porjohn). The author is a member of the leadership team of AJWRB. It is not easy for me to write my story, but it...
Evelyn’s Story
I had stopped going to the meetings for six months. Before that I was fading, but it wasn’t deliberate. The stress of being a Jehovah’s Witness and the daily treadmill on Watchtower’s hamster-wheel was too much for my physical and mental health. In early 1992 I moved...
Saving A Thousand Lives a Year
The Open Minds Foundation has published a two-part story that recounts some of the early history of AJWRB, and the circumstances that drove Lee Elder to take a deep interest in the Watchtower's blood transfusion policies. His story is a personal one that includes how...