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                                    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                 June 1, 2000

Jehovah’s Witnesses are known for their rejection of blood transfusion, even when it is necessary to save life. The controlling organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Watchtower Society, has required that Jehovah’s Witnesses reject blood transfusions since 1961. Nevertheless, in recent years the Watchtower Society has permitted Jehovah’s Witnesses to accept some blood products like albumin.

The June 15, 2000 issue of The Watchtower (an official church publication) announced that Jehovah’s Witnesses may now accept “fractions of any of the primary components” of blood. Previously Jehovah’s Witnesses had been permitted to accept only fractions of blood plasma without facing possible expulsion from the church.

This expanded policy will permit church members to accept numerous additional blood therapies and treatments. The Watchtower specifically mentions interferons and interleukins from white cells and a wound healing factor from platelets. More importantly, the policy apparently opens the door to the use of hemoglobin based blood substitutes like “PolyHeme”, that are close to obtaining FDA approval. Since hemoglobin is obtained from fractionating red cells, it would be permitted under the policy the Watchtower Society recently announced.

This is an important development since hemoglobin based blood substitutes have the potential to save many Jehovah’s Witness lives that are presently being lost in cases of trauma or surgery with massive blood loss.

A.J.W.R.B. welcomes this recent development but will continue to work for further revisions in the Watchtower Society’s blood policy. We believe that Jehovah’s Witnesses should have a free choice in their medical treatment without controls or sanctions from the Watchtower Society that could separate them from their religious community or Jehovah’s Witness family members and friends.

For complete documentation and further analysis of these developments visit the official site of the "Associated Jehovah's Witnesses for Reform on Blood."

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The Associated Jehovah's Witnesses for Reform on Blood, is a diverse group of Witnesses
from over 25 countries, including elders and other organization officials, Hospital Liaison
Committee members, doctors, and  members of the general public who have volunteered
their time and energies in an effort to bring about an end to a tragic and misguided policy
that has claimed thousands of lives, many of them children.
Website:  http://www.ajwrb.org     Email:  info@ajwrb.org
AJWRB - P.O. Box 190089 - Boise, ID 83719-0089 U.S.A.
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Bulgaria - An eastern European country remembered for its heroic efforts to save its Jewish citizens from the Nazi's has once again demonstrated its resolve to protect human life. This time the danger to its citizens is not that of being deported to Hitler's gas chambers, but rather the danger has been imported by the Watchtower Society through its partial blood ban. A policy that has led to thousands of deaths worldwide and that is enforced by control and official sanctions (excommunication) directed toward members who chose to accept forbidden blood products prescribed as necessary by their doctors.

On March 9, 1998, the government of Bulgaria agreed to officially recognize Jehovah's Witnesses following the Watchtower Society's submission of the following legally binding statement to the European Commission on Human Rights:

"The applicant [Watchtower Society] undertook with regard to its stance on blood transfusions to draft a statement for inclusion in its statute providing that members should have free choice in the matter for themselves and their children, without any control or sanction on the part of the association." (Emphasis ours)

On April 23, 1998, the "Associated Jehovah's Witnesses for Reform on Blood," sought clarification from the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses on this potentially monumental change in Watchtower policy, since the published position of the Watchtower has been that "the receiver of a blood transfusion must be cut off from God's people by excommunication or disfellowshiping." (Watchtower 1/15/61 pp. 63,64)

Although no response has been received by AJWRB, on April 27, 1998, the Watchtower Public Affairs Office (Phone: 718-560-5600) issued a press release concerning this situation which stated in part: "The terms of the agreement do not reflect a change in the doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses."

Sources within Bulgaria confirm that no real change will take place. Among Bulgarian Witnesses it will be understood that if one accepts one of the forbidden blood products in an attempt to save their life or the life of their child it will be announced to the congregation that they have "disassociated" themselves. All congregation members, including family, will be required to completely shun the individual, not even saying a greeting to the person who stands condemned before God according to Watchtower leaders.

Clearly the Watchtower Society does not intend to honor their agreement with Bulgaria and the European Commission on Human Rights. There will continue to be "sanctions" and "control" despite their assurances to the contrary.

A spokesman for AJWRB expressed his conviction that "the Watchtower Society would eventually feel compelled to abide by their agreement." The government of Bulgaria, and the European Commission on Human Rights have yet to respond to these contradictory statements by Watchtower officials.

For complete documentation and further analysis of these developments visit the official site of the "Associated Jehovah's Witnesses for Reform on Blood." The Internet address is: http://www.visiworld.com/starter/newlight/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 1997
Associated Jehovah's Witnesses for Reform on Blood
jwreformers@nymserver.com
theliberalelder@hotmail.com

NEW SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE CONTRADICTS WATCHTOWER BLOOD
DOCTRINE.

A group of Watchtower Society officials including elders serving as H.L.C. members
(Hospital Liaison Committee) have come forward and openly called into question the
organizations policy's regarding the use of blood.

A new report has been issued with scientific evidence gathered from new PCR technology that
completely refutes the organizations doctrine of only allowing certain blood components
on the basis that they pass through the placental barrier, and this is a "natural movement."

The scientific evidence clearly demonstrates that both red and white blood cells pass
through the placental barrier as well, and that this transfer occurs through out all three
trimesters of pregnancy.

This report will no doubt add to the growing number of Jehovah's Witness officials who
oppose the Watchtower Society's policy of forbidding Witnesses to accept certain blood
products, even when no viable alternatives exist.

To read this report, please visit the official site of the "Associated Jehovah's Witnesses for
Reform on Blood." The Internet address is:

http://www.visiworld.com/starter/newlight/home1.htm

The report can be found under the top heading:

WATCHTOWER POSITION CRUMBLES

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS PRESS RELEASE TO APPROPRIATE INDIVIDUALS,
DEPARTMENTS OR ORGANIZATIONS.

*********************************************************************
The Associated Jehovah's Witnesses for Reform on Blood, is a diverse group of
Witnesses from many countries, including elders and other organization officials,
Hospital Liaison Committee members, Doctors, Lawyers, Child Advocates and
members of the general public who have volunteered their time and energies in
an effort to bring about an end to a tragic and misguided policy that has claimed
thousands of lives, many of them children. Will you help save an innocent life?
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 7, 1997

Associated Jehovah's Witnesses for Reform on Blood jwreformers@nymserver.com

SCHISM AMONG WATCHTOWER OFFICIALS SPREADS

A group of Watchtower Society officials serving as H.L.C. members (Hospital Liaison Committee) have come forward and openly called into question the organizations policy's regarding the use of blood.

They state that they are "eye-witnesses" to numerous deaths that can be attributed to the confusing and arbitrary policies, and have called on the Watchtower Society to provide clarification and Biblical support for the various rulings on blood components made by the Watchtower Society.

The group has thrown it's support behind a growing number of Jehovah's Witness officials who openly oppose the Watchtower Society's policy of forbidding Witnesses to accept certain blood products, even when no viable alternatives exist.

The H.L.C. members have issued a report detailing their concerns, which can be found at the "NEW LIGHT ON BLOOD" site:

http://www.visiworld.com/starter/newlight/home1.htm

Tuesday May 6 9:02 AM EDT

Baxter( Baxter International Inc ) files in Europe for blood substitute

DEERFIELD, Ill., May 6 (Reuter) - Baxter International Inc said Tuesday its application for marketing authorization for its HemAssist blood substitute product was accepted for filing by the European Medicines Evaluation Agency.

If the agency approved the application, Baxter could begin selling HemAssist in all 15 European Union countries, it said.

Baxter is the first company to file for regulatory approval for a hemoglobin-based blood substitute, it said.

Baxter said it seeks approval to sell HemAssist in Europe as a blood substitute for use in heart patients following cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. The proposed use is based on data from a cardiac-surgery trial done in the United Kingdom, Belgium and France. The data were presented Monday at a medical conference in Switzerland, Baxter said.

At its annual shareholders meeting in Chicago on Monday, Baxter said it directors approved doubling the capacity of a

HemAssist manufacturing plant in Switzerland. The plant is scheduled to begin commercial output in 1998, Baxter said.

Baxter is conducting Phase III clinical trials in the United States with HemAssist for use in trauma and surgery. Such trials usually precede a filing for marketing approval with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

HemAssist is made from human hemoglobin -- a protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body.

Blood substitutes are meant to alleviate the often critical shortages of donated blood that occur periodically. Unlike donated blood, HemAssist does not require typing or cross-matching and can be stored for long periods of time.

Several U.S. firms had been racing to develop the first marketable blood substitute. But other than Baxter, only Northfield Laboratories Inc , based in Evanston, Ill., has reached pivotal Phase III trials.

Tuesday May 6 2:36 PM EDT

Company Press Release

Source: Northfield Laboratories

Northfield Laboratories Enters Home Stretch For Blood Substitute Product

BALTIMORE, May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Addressing institutional investors at a conference sponsored by Alex Brown & Co. Northfield Laboratories Inc. (Nasdaq:NFLD) will indicate today that the development of its blood substitute product, PolyHeme(TM) is in the home stretch with market introduction planned for sometime during 1999.

Northfield recently announced clearance from the Food and Drug Administration to begin Phase III trials of its blood substitute, PolyHeme at the 6 unit (3,000 milliliters) level. The advanced trial, the first Phase III study by any company to include direct replacement of blood in large volumes, is the only one of its kind and marks a milestone for both a blood substitute and Northfield. Phase III trials follow very successful and unprecedented results from the company's Phase II trials, which included infusion of up to ten units (5,000 milliliters) of PolyHeme in place of blood in trauma and urgent need settings. Ten units represents 100 percent of an average person's blood volume.

``Clearly we see ourselves alone in the home stretch of an almost 25-year odyssey to bring a blood substitute to market,'' said Richard DeWoskin, Northfield's chairman and chief executive officer. ``We expect this study to demonstrate complete avoidance of donated blood use in a significant number of patients undergoing high-volume-blood-loss surgical procedures.This seems to be the most compelling endpoint in elective surgery.''

The randomized, controlled study will include about 250 elective surgery patients and is expected to take approximately 12 months to complete once under way, beginning late in the second quarter. The development stage company has completed testing with more than 100 individuals to date.

``We have advanced to the point that the question of science is now being replaced with the question of size and scope of the commercial market for our product,'' said DeWoskin. ``Having shown success in Phase II trials, we fully expect that our Phase III trials will demonstrate the adaptability of PolyHeme to replace the need for blood in an elective surgery setting in addition to trauma.''

Northfield Laboratories is the only company to report achievement of this high dose level in any phase of clinical testing. The company maintains that in order for a blood substitute product to be commercially viable, manufacturing costs need to be competitive with the cost of blood and the blood substitute needs to demonstrate efficacy and safety at high dosage levels. The company indicated that no other company working on a replacement for blood in these critical settings has disclosed sufficient information to indicate any level of success in this area.

Dr. Steven A. Gould, Northfield's president, said, ``Demand for PolyHeme will be driven by physician behavior. A major thrust of current transfusion therapy continues to be the avoidance of using donated blood. In addition to the potential for the transmission of disease or the possibility for mistakes in blood typing, particularly in emergency situations, the transfusion of donated blood can have significant negative repercussions at a later date because of immunization issues brought on by this form of tissue transplant. However, the blood sparing alternatives currently being used are costly, cumbersome and not user friendly to either the patient or attending physicians.''

Early response by physicians across the country, including emergency room physicians, anesthesiologists, and surgeons, indicate that there will be a strong demand for a safe and effective oxygen carrying blood substitute like PolyHeme. More than 8.5 million units of blood are transfused in these settings annually. At an average price per unit of well over $300, this equates to a $3 billion market for either blood or an oxygen carrying substitute product used in transfusions.

DeWoskin also stated, ``Now that we are in the Phase III study, our efforts will be largely focused on the business side of delivering PolyHeme to market within a 24-month time frame. A first step is to begin construction of a manufacturing facility with a capacity of 300,000 units and which can be easily expanded to 600,000 units. We have selected a site, design work is progressing and we would expect to break ground in the fall of 1997.''

The company has previously announced an agreement with hemerica, Inc., a blood collection agency, for a supply of blood, which is the raw material for the manufacture of PolyHeme. The company is negotiating additional supply agreements with other blood collection groups. Without competition for this product, Northfield is confident of the availability of raw material at economic prices.

``With an intended product launch in 1999, we also anticipate entering into a marketing and distribution arrangement with a strategic partner,'' said DeWoskin. ``We would like to have such a partner in place at least a year prior to product launch.

Over the next 12 months, we expect to finalize such an agreement with one or possibly more of the parties with whom we have had ongoing discussions for worldwide distribution of PolyHeme, he added. ''Until then, we are well positioned financially to accomplish all of our objectives without the need for additional capital prior to a product launch.`` Meanwhile, Northfield intends to continue trials of its product in areas other than elective surgery and trauma situations.

Northfield Laboratories was founded in 1985. The Company is headquartered in Evanston, Illinois, and its stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol NFLD.

SOURCE: Northfield Laboratories

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 27, 1997

David A. Reed, Box 819, Assonet, MA 02702, davereed@webshowplace.com,

508-763-8050

TWO SUICIDAL SECTS?

AMAZING SIMILARITIES

The grim discovery of 39 bodies in a San Diego mansion highlights sharp similarities between the Heaven's Gate cult and another sect widely regarded as a mainstream religion. Not far from this week's death scene stands a similar tile-roofed mansion named Beth-Sarim built in 1929 by the Watchtower organization, better known as Jehovah's Witnesses. It may have been in this San Diego mansion that Watchtower leaders drew up their ban on blood transfusions, a ban that "led thousands to die needlessly" according to charges cited recently in JAMA, the JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. (Feb. 5, 1997, Vol. 277, No. 5, page 425)

While the Heaven's Gate suicides expected to be transported at death to a location in outer space associated with the Hale-Bopp comet, for many decades Watchtower believers hoped to go for their heavenly reward to the star Alcyone, the brightest star in the Pleiades cluster in the constellation Taurus ("the Bull"). Jehovah's Witnesses believed Christ traveled there after his resurrection, and they identified Alcyone as the residence of Almighty God Jehovah himself. (See their WATCHTOWER magazine, May 15, 1895, p. 1814.)

Joseph F. ("Judge") Rutherford (Watchtower President 1916-1942) continued the pattern established by founder Charles Taze Russell. In Rutherford's 1928 book RECONCILIATION he proclaimed, "the Pleiades is the place of the eternal throne of God." (page 14) Jehovah's Witness leaders did not repudiate this teaching until 1953 when THE WATCHTOWER stated, "it would be unwise for us to try to fix God's throne as being at a particular spot in the universe." (November 15, page 703)

While Heaven's Gate believers donned purple togas during their final moments, Watchtower founder Russell had his traveling companion fashion a white Roman toga from railroad sleeping-car bedsheets as he approached death on Halloween, October 31, 1916. A massive stone pyramid measuring nine feet across its base with the name WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY engraved in large letters on its side stands next to Russell's grave, marking the sect's burial plots in United Cemetery north of Pittsburgh.

Until 1928 the sect taught that the Great Pyramid of Egypt was lined up with the Pleiades star cluster and contained in its measurements prophecies of the life of Christ and the end of the world.

With more than 900 deaths, the People's Temple sect led by Rev. Jim Jones holds the modern record for its mass-suicide in 1978 at Jonestown, Guyana. However, a greater number of Jehovah's Witnesses have died in obedience to their leadership's ban on blood, according to a recent book reviewed last month in JAMA. The medical journal departed from its usual subject matter to review BLOOD ON THE ALTAR: CONFESSIONS OF A JEHOVAH'S WITNESS MINISTER, on the grounds that the book "would be most useful to clinicians who treat Jehovah's Witnesses and to emergency and critical care providers who often must deal with a patient's refusal to accept a blood transfusion when death is otherwise imminent," according to Marianne Mann, MD, who wrote the review. The book by former Witness elder David A. Reed traces the Watchtower movement's roots back to the Adventists of the mid-to-late 1800s, the same source as the Branch Davidians who died in large numbers at Waco, Texas, in a shoot-out and subsequent fire in 1993.

PRESS RELEASE

Date: March 19, 1997

From: Associated Jehovah's Witnesses For Reform on Blood

A growing number of Jehovah's Witnesses from all levels of the organization oppose the current policy of the Governing Body which is to disfellowship members who accept blood transfusions. The policy position on blood has been revised numerous times over the years, and Witnesses may now use a number of blood components or fractions that were previously disapproved. Transfusion of whole blood, red and white cells, platelets and plasma are still not allowed, and this position on blood results in needless suffering and death.

Those advocating reform of the doctrine have been reviewing the issues and conferring on strategies, primarily by means of an Internet forum called Hourglass2 Outpost, which is attracting over 7,500 visitors per month and is growing rapidly.

Reformer's would like to see revisions in the blood doctrine, as well as the Watchtower Society's policies on disfellowshiping, chronology, freedom of expression and several other key issues. They believe that the Bible should be closely adhered to, and this conviction has been the driving force behind their efforts.

Today a well known supporter for the reform group announced that a new Internet website had been opened to address the numerous issues surrounding the organization's blood doctrine. He was quoted as saying: "Over the years, the leadership has made it their policy to refer to previous erroneous positions as 'old light', and revisions as 'new light.' Therefore, we thought it fitting to name the website 'New Light on Blood.' The website is sure to cause many Witnesses to shake their heads in disbelief, but that is simply because the organization has done such an effective job at controlling the information most Witnesses have access to. The information which we present at the site isn't really new, it's been out there for quite some time, but the average Witness is completely in the dark when it comes to dissenting opinions." He went on to state: "Thank God that the Internet has changed all of that, and the 'rank and file' Witness can finally get some objective information about the blood ban, it's origin, and what other experts in the fields of medicine, science and theology have to say."

The Reformer we spoke with, who is a long time elder of the organization, chose to remain anonymous since it is the Watchtower Society's policy to 'disfellowship' any baptized member who disagrees with official position or interpretations of the Bible as decided upon by it's governing body. He stated his belief that the blood ban would soon go the way of previous prohibitions on vaccines, serums, and organ transplants which have been discarded as "old light."

Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a press release calling for the treatment of children in life threatening situations despite parental religious objections.

"Let's face it," stated the anonymous Jehovah's Witness elder, "people are fed up with innocent children being sacrificed over this issue. The governing body generally is very sensitive to the scriptures, but the case made for forbidding the medical use of blood is flimsy and based upon errant Biblical scholarship, scientific ignorance and medical quackery that can be traced to C.J. Woodworth, the first editor of the Golden Age magazine, which is now called Awake.

The grass roots reform movement seems to be picking up steam. "We are receiving a great deal of correspondence from current and former Witnesses. It's running about eight to one in favor of reform. It's pretty clear that once people have looked at all the facts, most feel that the Society's current position on blood is wrong, and that they are hanging on to this doctrine, in part, because they fear embarrassment and potential litigation from those who, like myself, have lost loved ones as a result of the ban, and misunderstanding the Biblical position on blood."

Many of the reformers, fearing retaliation from the governing body, in the form of disfellowshiping, have set up anonymous Internet accounts and carefully guard their identities. The elder we spoke with stated, "we feel that this is a necessary precaution so that we can continue our reform efforts which consist primarily of informing and educating the public, legal and medical professionals, and current and past Jehovah's Witnesses. Once we have informed and educated the members, we feel that the governing body will be compelled into granting Witnesses the freedom of deciding this matter according to their Christian conscience." He also stated that the reform group had approached the governing body directly. But for reasons undisclosed, they had no interest in discussing the subject.

Press Release

AAP ADDRESSES PARENTS’ RELIGIOUS OBJECTIONS TO MEDICAL CARE

For Release: February 10, 1997, 5 pm EST

Below is a news release of a policy published in the February issue of PEDIATRICS, the peer-reviewed,scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). To receive the full text of this policy,please e-mail the division of public relations at pubrel@aap.org and ask for February 1997 Religious Objections policy.

CHICAGO, IL--A new policy from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states that no child should be denied access to medical care based on a parent’s religious beliefs. The policy, published in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, states that religion often plays an important role in the growth and development of children and families. “Pediatricians should seek to make collaborative decisions with families whenever possible and should take great care when considering seeking authority to override parental references,” the AAP states. However, when parental practices have potentially harmful consequences for the child, a pediatrician may need to intervene on the child’s behalf, the policy reports.

Children have the right to appropriate medical care “when it is likely that a serious illness, injury or other medical condition endangers their lives or threatens substantial harm or suffering,” the AAP states. “Constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion do not permit children to be harmed through religious practices, nor do they allow religion to be a defense when an individual harms or neglects a child,” according to the policy. The policy also reaffirms the AAP stance calling for the repeal of religious exemption statutes within state child abuse laws. These laws position a child’s need for medical care against a parent’s religious beliefs. As a result, parents are protected from civil or criminal action when denying medical treatment to their children based on religious beliefs.

The policy also makes additional recommendations to the nation’s pediatricians and child advocates. Some of these suggestions include: pediatricians should show sensitivity and flexibility toward religious beliefs and practices of families; legislation should ensure that all parents who deny their children medical care likely to prevent death or substantial harm or suffering are held legally accountable; and, the medical community should work with child advocacy organizations, government agencies and religious organizations to educate the public on legal obligations of providing appropriate medical care for children. Currently, 46 states have religious exemption clauses within child abuse and neglect laws. Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts and South Dakota have repealed these clauses.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 51,000 pediatricians dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.

NEW YORK, Oct. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- After years of arrests, beatings, and loss of property, Jehovah's Witnesses have regained legal recognition in Bulgaria. They are the first religion in the country to successfully appeal to an international body in order to regain legal recognition. Dozens of religions were banned in 1994.

This legal recognition, which was received Wednesday, October 7, 1998, represents an important victory for religious freedom in the country and throughout Eastern Europe, said Lubomir Kutchoukov, spokesperson for Jehovah's Witnesses in Bulgaria. "We are grateful that appeals to international standards of human rights have led to this reasonable and peaceful conclusion," he said. "All people of Bulgaria will benefit from this victory."

This important legal victory came after intervention from the European Commission of Human Rights of the Council of Europe. In July 1997, the Commission suggested that the government of Bulgaria enter into a friendly settlement with Jehovah's Witnesses. On March 8, 1998, the Commission accepted the terms of the settlement, which included the government's promise to grant legal recognition to Jehovah's Witnesses. As part of the settlement, Bulgaria also agreed to create a bill that will allow alternative civilian service for conscientious objectors. The terms of the agreement involved no change in the doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses. (Emphasis ours)

Jehovah's Witnesses were first legally recognized in Bulgaria on July 17, 1991, shortly after the fall of communism. However, despite democratic changes in Bulgaria, restrictions on religion continued. Beginning in 1993, public defamation against "non-traditional" churches began, resulting in many human rights violations. In 1994, some 39 religions lost their legal status after the passage of a restrictive law on religion. Jehovah's Witnesses were subjected to a rash of police raids, beatings and arrests.

At the same time, "there has not been a single member of a 'sect' (judicially) charged for committing a crime motivated by religious convictions," stated a 1996 report by the Bulgarian Helsinki Commission and Human Rights Without Frontiers.

Jehovah's Witnesses have been present in Bulgaria since the first decades of this century. They have nearly six million members worldwide, and more than 13 million have attended their religious services. They are officially recognized in more than 150 countries.

Information on the Bulgaria registration can be found at
http://www.lbtech.con/bulgaria. For more information on Jehovah's Witnesses,
visit http://www.watchtower.org.

SOURCE Watchtower Bible & Tract Society