| Thousands Die Each Year |
| Written by Barbara Anderson |
| Friday, 05 March 2010 16:48 |
 As an independent, outspoken critic of the Watch Tower organization, I know, “The more profile, the more scrutiny.” Inasmuch as I write many articles, posts and blogs, there is opportunity for criticism of my integrity and honesty if I make certain claims without proof such as saying, “Thousands of Witnesses die each year when they need whole blood or some major blood components that JWs leaders don’t approve of.”
In answer to those who have inquired where I arrived at that figure stated in one of my lectures, “Why It Is Dangerous to Associate With Jehovah’s Witnesses” (http://www.freeminds.org/sociology/other/why-it-is-dangerous-to-associate-with-jehovahs-witnesses.html), which I delivered in France and Italy, I will attempt to explain my position. First of all, let me emphasize that I was speaking of thousands of Jehovah's Witnesses from around the world dying because of Watch Tower’s blood-ban. And this lecture was meant to contain sweeping generalization without source material to back up my statements because there was no time to present details about the dangers of associating with Jehovah’s Witnesses. Certainly there are no concrete figures to back up my claim that thousands die. It is my personal belief just as one Internet poster, Marvin Shilmer, observed on a discussion board. (See following link along with his post.) Nonetheless, there is compelling evidence, some of which Marvin presents that demonstrates the correctness of my assertion. Assuming Barbara is speaking of Watchtower’s blood doctrine, it is not unrealistic to say thousands of Witnesses die each year as a result of it. This is what Barbara’s statement is to me: a statement of her personal belief that thousands of people among the Witnesses die each year because of Watchtower’s blood doctrine. Based on an average mortality rate of 1 percent, around 100,000 individuals in the Witness population die each year. Because this population is at a higher risk because of refusing various blood products that would prevent premature death in certain instances then it is realistic to think that at least 2,000 or more deaths annually among this patient population is a result of refusing these products. The mortality rate would only have to increase 2/100th's to 1.02 percent to achieve the statistical number of 2,000 deaths. The United States has approximately 1,500,000 individuals in the Witness community. Annually it would take only 6 Witness deaths in each state of the USA due to refusing blood to achieve an increase of 2/100th's of 1 percent mortality. (6!) It is not unrealistic to think this occurs assuming Witnesses are just as likely as everyone else to face need of transfusion that Watchtower forbids. Just like everyone else, Witnesses have babies, automobile accidents, accidents on the job, other blunt force traumas, cancers of all sorts, blood disorders, and the list goes on. And, guess what? Just like everyone else, Witnesses bleed. Lose enough blood and Witnesses will die just like anyone else. There is a point at which only a transfusion of some Watchtower forbidden blood product will prevent such a death. If refused, these patients die. End of story. They check out. That Witnesses face extraordinary mortality as a result of Watchtower’s blood doctrine is established in vetted literature. Here is a link where this was presented a few years ago on this forum (hope it works): http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/medical/135674/1/Deaths-Due-to-Watchtower-Blood-Doctrine-Statistic-on-one-patient-population This year another study from the Netherlands demonstrated that Witnesses presenting with maternity have a mortality rate 6 times higher than the national average purely because of refusing blood forbidden by Watchtower. (Ref. Van Wolfswinkel et al, Maternal mortality and serious maternal morbidity in Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Netherlands, BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2009 p. 1103) Though I understand, embrace and endorse suspicion, in this case I am not the least suspicious of Barbara’s belief on this point. It is likely that thousands die among those in the worldwide community of Witnesses because of Watchtower’s blood doctrine. Marvin Shilmer
Along with Marvin’s post regarding certain studies done on this subject of mortality rate due to the Jehovah's Witnesses blood-ban, my belief about thousands of Jehovah's Witnesses around the world dying needlessly didn’t arise out of nowhere. I’ve been reading articles for a long time on this subject and spoken to knowledgeable people who have certainly influenced my conclusion. Here are some links to pertinent discussions that were extremely helpful. http://www.ajwrb.org/science/risks1.shtml http://www.babycenter.com/204_jehovahs-witnesses-have-high-maternal-death-rate_10315872.bc
“Bloodless Surgery” DeathsI have no idea how many hospitals and “centers” there are that call themselves “Bloodless” Centers (to be sure, a misnomer because these places use every kind of blood product known to humankind) that proportionately have a higher surgical death rate than general hospitals do because they cater to a very sick JW patient population. But we can logically conclude that Jehovah's Witnesses are dying in those centers because they won’t take the forbidden components of blood. To my knowledge, it is not possible to get figures from these centers to find out just how many JWs die each year undergoing surgery without using whole blood or a specific component not permitted by Watch Tower. Moreover, there are so many different circumstances causing death arising with each sick Jehovah's Witness that only a medical expert doing a careful cause of mortality statistical study could arrive at an accurate and satisfactory mortality rate. A newspaper article that made an unforgettable impression on me related to this subject can be found at http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-05-22-death-rates-side_N.htm which states, "Grading hospitals is anything but easy, experts say, and sometimes the information can be challenging even for experts to interpret. For example, Florida's health information website, www.floridahealthstate .com, notes that Shands Hospital at the University of Florida has a higher bypass surgery death rate, 6.31%, than the state rate of 2.51%. "'Florida's an unusual state," says Curt Tribble, Shands' chief of cardiovascular surgery. "We're one of four transplant centers in the state, the fifth-busiest heart and lung transplant center in the country. We do almost all the Jehovah's Witnesses in the state, and they refuse transfusions. '" This USA Today article gave me pause because Shands Hospital is only one medical center that concentrates on saving JWs in need of critically needed surgery without the use of blood transfusions and has a higher surgical death rate because of it than other hospitals who generally don’t specialize in this type of care. What about the Center for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery at Allegheny General Hospital, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a highly-Jehovah's Witness-recommended hospital that also caters to very sick and dying Jehovah's Witnesses in the United States who need special care without the use of blood. Like Shands, Allegheny General’s death rate must be high because the circumstances are the same.
Media Attention LackingMost of the deaths of adults due to refusal of blood are not reported by the press. Other than the excellent information Marvin Shilmer presented concerning Jehovah's Witness maternal mortality rates, “thousands” of other Jehovah's Witness adults go into hospital every day for elective surgery or for some emergency situation and some die because they won’t take blood, but their names are not entered into records that we can access. I personally have known of adult Jehovah's Witnesses dying under these circumstances, and from what others have posted on Internet discussion boards, there are many. If only one Jehovah's Witness in each of the 11,930 congregations in the United States as of 2003 dies annually because of the blood-ban, that would mean there would have been over eleven thousand deaths that year, but I don’t think that’s realistic. Inasmuch as there are over 103,000 congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses in more than 235 lands with more than 7,000,000 Jehovah's Witnesses, the probability that the Watch Tower blood-ban has caused many thousands to die is reasonable, especially in undeveloped countries where Jehovah's Witness approved “fractionated” blood products are not available. Annual Worldwide Statistics - 2008 Attendance at the annual Memorial of Christ’s death 17,790,631 Practicing members 7,124,443 Congregations 103,267
Jehovah's Witness Gray Heads Do Not Take BloodIn the 1980s and 1990s, when I was still a Jehovah's Witness and visited many kingdom halls as the wife of an elder, who accompanied her husband when he traveled to congregations to give the Sunday lecture, I noticed that a high percentage of Jehovah's Witnesses in each U.S. congregation have gray heads. Inasmuch as older people have more health problems, when there is a need for elective surgery or emergency treatment, they go into hospital and the chance that something goes amiss is higher than in a younger patient population. And In the case of adult Jehovah's Witnesses, who have signed no-blood documents, if they die because of refusal to take blood transfusions when there is a need, there are no newspapers covering the story and no one knows that the no-blood ban was directly responsible for the deaths. Busy doctors do care, but after all, Jehovah's Witnesses are adults and their wishes prevail, so physicians scratch their heads in wonder and then go on to treat another patient. In these specific cases around the world, thousands of Jehovah's Witness gray heads die, who could have been saved had they taken blood. Since I left the Jehovah's Witness organization in 1998, I have personally known of many cases of older adult Jehovah's Witnesses dying because they wouldn’t take blood, deaths that received no publicity. And now, because I don’t associate with Jehovah's Witnesses at all, many cases are known to me through their relatives. If in my circumstances I know of many such deaths, how many people die because of the blood-ban around the world where the reasons are only known to the medical staff, and, of course, to the HLC. At times, due to certain circumstances, even those in the Kingdom Hall don’t know the real reason why an older Jehovah's Witness dies. In my personal experience, Jehovah's Witnesses of advanced age will give up a few more years of life that they might have had if they accepted blood in any form. And they die thinking they are pleasing Jehovah and will shortly gain a resurrection onto a paradise earth.
Cases In PointWith permission granted to relate these situations, here are some experiences of what transpired in the private lives of some sick Jehovah’s Witnesses which definitely influenced my opinion on the matter under discussion:
The day before her death, a Witness showed a baptized family member that the elderly woman could take EPO, an approved blood fraction. The family member was pointed to a Watchtower booklet that stated this fraction worked "very quickly" to increase red blood cell count. The family member demanded the hospital administer EPO, a WT approved blood fraction, to build up the elderly woman's blood. After reading the Watchtower literature, the family member was distraught that the hospital waited about an hour to administer this miracle shot. Afterward, the doctors and staff tried to explain the truth that this EPO shot takes time to work and time was something Kerry’s mom ran out of. A relative of mine is a CNA and cares for ill women in their golden years that can’t care for themselves. Two out of her last five patients developed severe anemia so rapidly that the only way to save them was through blood transfusions. Consequently, by accepting blood in an emergency situation, they lived longer lives. If they had been Jehovah's Witness women, their outcome would have been tragic. Of course, there would have been no newspaper coverage reporting they died because of refusing blood.
During the next three days the patient received “approved” blood products to build up his blood count so he could undergo surgery again. Soon, he felt better but upon standing upright in his room, the aorta completely tore apart and he died. After all was said and done, medical personnel agreed that this man most likely would have survived if he had taken blood during the aorta repair. Of course, no one can say for certain that he would have recovered, but it appears that with blood transfusions the prognosis was good. This is not a dissertation about the surgery nor associated problems of this case. JW “Doe” became a surgical fatality statistic that no one keeps track of like so many other Jehovah's Witnesses deaths because of the WT’s blood-ban.
When the son finally was able to see his father and convince him to take the fraction, it was too late for a successful outcome. JW “Smith” died a horrible death. He drowned, or should I say his lungs filled up with fluid from all the saline solution he had been given and died. This was a purely preventable death.
Other Uncounted Deaths
In ConclusionThere are no documented studies of deaths due to the no-blood ban. If I had waited for documented information to prove that the blood-ban is causing, annually, thousands of JWs around the world to die, I would have to wait until time indefinite because at this point there are no statistical studies in place to prove this one way or the other, but common sense and personal experience in this matter tells JWs and former JWs that secretly, thousands of JWs must have died every year because they refused blood. Lately, on the Internet, some former JWs have posted that as many as 250,000 JWs have died since the blood-ban went into effect. Yes, if thousands die each year since this belief was introduced in 1945, and has been elaborated upon since then, the numbers could well be that high. Hopefully, the number of JWs who die because they have refused blood might change in the near future. We can only hope that the following comment made by “Kitty” is true. http://www.scienceandreligiontoday.com/2010/02/17/faith-and-the-issue-of-blood-transfusion/ 35.Kitty says: Attention all Jehovah’s Witnesses. I just heard from a very reliable source that a brother in the Writing Dept say’s there will be new light on the blood issue published this summer. He hinted around to the fact that it will now be a conscience matter. Although our hopes are high that change is in the air and that the consciences of JWs who need blood will thoroughly examine the issue and accept recommended medical treatment that might save their lives, the next comment posted after Wendy’s on the blog, Science and Religion Today, is truly thought-provoking and highly perceptive so I'm including it at the end of this article. May all Jehovah's Witnesses think deeply about the “thousands that die each year,” who won’t accept blood products or whole blood transfusions, and also about those in many countries where Watch Tower approved blood products are not available to Witnesses, and pray their Governing Body hears the outcry from so many sincere ones. Barbara
36.Jman says: Interesting comment Kitty. Although I doubt that any ‘new light’ will directly say ‘taking whole blood or its components’ is a conscience matter – at least not with such direct wording. Nonetheless that really is the issue, is it not? I mean – imperfect men have been dictating what ‘is’ and ‘is not’ a conscience matter with regards potentially life-saving medical treatments. I am a very active Jehovah’s Witness. I could verify it – but since every poster just has to take each others word for it…I have just one question for my fellow Jehovah’s Witnesses: If this principle of blood transfusions being prohibited is so absolutely clear in the Bible, why did Jehovah’s Witnesses not see it so ‘perfectly clear’ until the mid 1940s? i.e., why did those who took blood transfusions as well as those who gave blood prior to 1945 (really 1961) not suffer congregation/family expulsion? Did those Witnesses who taught it’s ok and accepted blood transfusions prior to 1945 lose their approved status before God since this teaching should have been so ‘perfectly clear’? My point is not to debate whether the ‘light got brighter’ as it were – but to try and understand why we claim ‘IT’S SO CLEAR’ in the Bible when it has not always been ’so clear’. I mean in the same scripture that prohibits eating blood it also prohibits fornication. You don’t see a lot of back and forth comments on news articles / web-comment-boards about fornication and Jehovah’s Witness controversial view of it. You don’t have ‘no-fornication cards’ that you carry around with you that have pre-printed words to remind someone pressuring you that you’re a Jehovah’s Witness, so sorry – you don’t accept acts of fornication. You don’t have a ‘fornication brochure and videos presenting fornication alternatives’. What about a Fornication Liaison Committee – no need for those right? Why not? Because the scriptures in the Bible make that point clear. Since the beginning of the modern-day organization, fornication has always been condemned – no serious Bible student would try and claim that ‘fornication is a conscience matter’. But yet the medical use of blood from vaccines, to fractions, to blood transferred in organ transplants, to the fact that white blood cells are transferred during breast feeding – makes the following point an absolute truth that no honest JW could disagree with: The command on ‘abstaining from blood’ with regards to blood in medical uses, including transfusion, has not always been ‘SO PERFECTLY CLEAR’ now has it? Especially when one looks at it in harmony with God’s view of life and the context of the ‘blood’ scriptures as they’re related to food products only. The point is, IT IS NOT A CLEAR TEACHING FROM THE BIBLE. Now before JW haters start jumping on the bandwagon and cheering this comment on – I do think there is a pretty clear teaching regarding bleeding any meat we might eat. Even outside of that, it’s true one has to give consideration to God’s view of blood on a principled basis, in harmony with the entirety of the scriptures. I am also ok with those ‘taking the lead’ in the worldwide association of true Christians, to promote and uphold any evident principles found in the scriptures that reflect Jehovah and Jesus’ balanced view for life, blood, and health. But that brings us back to the main point – when the Bible specifies a certain command, would Jehovah the God of love, the one whose son criticized the religious leaders for their inappropriate burden of rules upon the people – would He not truly make every major command/prohibition EXTREMELY clear, as clear as fornication? Clear enough that it wouldn’t be necessary to have pages and pages of lists of acceptable blood products and non-acceptable products – determined by the same imperfect men that say prohibition of other blood parts are perfectly clear? Clear enough not to have to call a group of non-medically trained men to determine what God does and doesn’t allow in a life-threatening medical situation? I’m not saying that individuals shouldn’t think about their spirituality and their own relationship with God in the decisions they make. However every reasonable and honest person can see that it is evident that Jehovah’s Witnesses have not always felt that the blood prohibition is ‘SO CLEAR’ when it comes to the medical use of blood products. That’s just an undeniable fact. Therefore, could it not be concluded that the prohibition of blood transfusion and its non-biblically-defined primary components – is actually based on conclusions that not every diligent, sincere, lover of Jehovah, Jesus, and the Bible would clearly see. Evidently, just a little more than half a century ago, hundreds of thousands of Jehovah’s Witnesses felt there was no such clear and explicit prohibition, even by principle. Perhaps many or some of these men who later promoted a different idea, have long since passed away. Nonetheless this teaching has evolved, and since the 1980s some parts of blood have been deemed a conscience matter and that has even later evolved to using one’s own whole blood and its components as long as it is for a specific procedure and not stored indefinitely. Now if ones like Jake Gill above so choose to view the ‘blood scripture’ as pertaining to an all-out prohibition of using certain blood products in any medical way- then yes, for themselves, they should indeed be allowed to do that. However, they should recognize that not every one of Jehovah’s Witnesses has always felt that way. They should recognize that it has not always been so clear among Jehovah’s Witnesses, and with the never-ending changes and updates to the organization’s policy, the fact is, it is not so clear now. As a matter of fact, for Jake and others that love to give an explanation for the controversial policy, if it was so clear why even waste your time trying to defend it? Why not just say – ‘read Acts 15! that says all you need to know.’? The reason, and if you’re really honest with yourself you can’t argue against it, is because the policy is NOT SO CLEAR. That’s why people try to write comments about the great things that have been done within the ‘conscience range’ of transfusion alternative treatment. And let’s be perfectly clear – a lot of those alternatives do involve blood – either autologous transfusions or fractions like hemoglobin donated from homologous blood. This only reiterates that the understanding of the command on blood cannot be clearly understood without question, not in any uniform manner. Thus two sincere Jehovah’s Witnesses may each have a different understanding of how that scripture applies to themselves. This may include one JW individual feeling there is no scriptural conflict in accepting transfusions of whole blood whereas other Jehovah’s Witnesses may always avoid blood transfusions or blood products. But in the end, that’s between them and Jehovah, and it shouldn’t mean that either individual has left their faith. So – I certainly wish the organization would see ‘new light’ and just make transfusions and whole blood products a conscience matter when life/death medical situations arise. But I personally believe that the lack of clarity on the matter is overwhelming evidence that blood transfusions are indeed a conscience matter. I have thought this through well. I have not stated anywhere herein that I would take a blood transfusion though. I certainly would show my respect to all those in the medical communities that understand the risks of blood transfusions and offer alternative choices to straight-up blood transfusions. However, at this time I will not sign a document where somebody besides myself imposes their latest of many changing understandings of an UNCLEAR scripture. Do I prefer to have a health care agent that will consider all medically advised treatment options if I was out of commission? Yes. And when we think about it – how often do we read about a representative or spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses claiming that choosing to avoid blood transfusions is an ‘individual choice’. If that’s the case – Why have “pre-printed” medical cards – why not just encourage Witnesses to fill out their own DPA with the wording of their ‘individual choice’ in regards to blood transfusions. Since no such option is ever even spoken about at meetings or in Watchtower publications, how is it that it’s truly an ‘individual choice’? Isn’t it really an organization choice made in our behalf? Prove me wrong. Anyway – as hopeful as Kitty’s comment may make some feel, please know that such changes anytime soon are unlikely. If you are a Jehovah’s Witness like me, and you see the scriptures regarding blood and their application to life-threatening treatment in the same way as stated in Watchtower publications – then so be it. However, if you read the command on blood and don’t find the organization’s latest explanation perfectly clear, then perhaps, just maybe – your conscience has a more important role than one that should be dictated by a pre-printed statement on a health proxy. I know one thing is the current truth right now. If a situation called upon me to choose which standard of God’s I needed to uphold: His regard for life, or his regard for blood – I would only want to make that choice by considering 1) medically trained professional’s opinions 2) ABSOLUTELY PERFECTLY CLEAR SCRIPTURES on matters of blood with no additional commentary and 3) my close and prayerful relationship with Jehovah and of course his son Christ Jesus. Most importantly that decision would be mine and mine alone. There would be no need to inform members of the congregation of my private decision. As a matter of fact, I would hold liable any congregation member that tried to violate privacy laws and inquire of my personal medical decisions. Obviously certain family members might need to be involved and they too would understand the importance of confidentiality and the legal implications of breaking such confidentiality. This brings us to a final but yet quite important matter. The Fear of getting disfellowshipped. Is that not really the reason many Jehovah’s Witnesses say they won’t take whole blood products? I mean really…If you were to take all those who’s conscience allows them to take approved fractions, and pretty much do anything that the Watchtower says is a conscience matter – well then – there’s probably only a handful who refuse conscience matter options. And get those initial refuters into a medical situation, would not most of them be willing to accept conscience-matter options? It goes to show that when something goes from a disfellowshipping doctrinal offense, to a non-disfellowshipping conscience matter – there is a huge likelihood that most constituents will suddenly find their conscience allowing them to engage in an activity that previously they said was their individual choice to abstain from it. The example here being “fractions-bad” to “fractions – conscience”. Thus here you at first have scriptural interpretation being imposed on matters, but later they become matters for individuals to decide. Were they not matters that Jehovah wanted individuals to decide all along? Did God change? No, of course not. But nonetheless, as it stands now and likely will for the foreseeable future – A person where evidence is brought forth showing they have taken forbidden blood products – will face a judicial committee. If this judicial committee finds the individual un- Hits: 1043 Trackback(0)
Comments (15)
  written by easingout , March 06, 2010 Dear Barbara, Marvin et al, Please, Please, PLEASE, stick to facts and first-hand accounts. By relating so much hearsay and anecdotal information and innuendo, you fall into the same trap as the society does in making their case against things like higher education, the internet and even blood transfusions. An example or two – First, lack of a blood transfusion could have contributed to the death of Kerry’s mom but not getting an EPO injection less than 48 hours before a heart attack definitely did not. Even at the ultra-high ‘off-label’ dosing of EPO that the society suggests (which only works well if given with intra-venous iron) there would be no significant change in hemoglobin due to the EPO in such a short time. In fact, the evidence indicates that the IV iron may have helped her more quickly if her anemia was induced by a lack of iron. I have read (and have on file) virtually everything written by the society and provided to HLC members and can find nothing that says EPO works “very quickly”. However, EPO would have been indicated as a treatment for her chronic anemia as an ongoing therapy. Secondly, Elder “Brown’s” experience does not even directly contribute to the point you are making. It is a very common treatment to be put on Warfarin (blood thinner) for that condition and the effect on the blood is closely monitored. If he ended up going to the hospital for blood that would not coagulate there could have been many reasons – improper management by his physician, improper dosing by the patient, patient’s failure to get his blood tested on time, improper change in diet (there are foods that must be avoided because they alter the drug’s affect) just to name a few. I personally know of at least three persons that died under very similar circumstances who were not JW’s and transfusions were a part of their therapy and they died. It is a treatment with inherent risks. My point is not to minimize the society’s culpability in this matter. Rather it is to help minimize distorted information that might negate well intentioned criticism. A physician or anyone with a scientific mind could read your posting and completely dismiss the entire thing because it seems much more an emotional response than a well reasoned argument. Remember an argument is like a chain, only as strong as its weakest point, and the stories you included diminish your point rather than reinforce it. Thanks to you and all those trying to help the spiritually stranded. Respectfully, easingout report abuse
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 written by Barbara Anderson , March 06, 2010 Dear easingout, I related this case just like Elder "Brown's" wife told me but shortened it because it's such a long story. Her husband was on 3 different blood thinners at the same time each prescribed by three different doctors. Eventually, he had a horrible headache and tests in the ER showed he was bleeding internally. The ER doctors recommended blood transfusions, but the HLC made sure he didn't get any. The wife was there in the hospital when all of this happened and was over-ruled by the HLC one of which was a relative. There was quite a bit of bickering between the Witnesses. The ER doctors believed this man needed transfusions but he never had a chance to receive any and all because of being a JW. That's the point I was making. Perhaps he would have died anyway. However, the ER doctors were hopeful, but he never stood a chance of surviving because of not taking blood. This man's wife told me that her husband died because appropriate treatment could not be administered because of being one of JWs. Eventually the wife sued the three doctors. The ER team related that their recommended treatment was not accepted. The wife won her lawsuit not against HLC but against 3 physicians who never once said that transfusions were inappropriate, but accepted the blame for his death by their negligence. I stand by my statement that this man was one of thousands of JWs that died that year because he was a JW. No matter what you say, the testimony in court said that this man's medical condition, which was caused by the three blood thinners, merited transfusions and because he was a JW, he did not get any and died. I can only repeat what I'm told. Regarding your other complaint, may I suggest you go back and reread Kerry's statements about her mother. EPO was given Kerry's mother only once right before she died due to the insistance of a JW relative even though the doctors knew that EPO wouldn't help Kerry's mom in her critical state. They tried to explain to the relatives that it takes about a month or more to see results. I think perhaps you misunderstood what Kerry said. She personally wrote this story. Kerry's mom needed immediate blood transfusions and she refused. EPO couldn't help her; blood transfusions could. She was one of the thousands that died that year because she refused a blood transfusion. That's the theme of my essay. report abuse
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 written by Berthold Dwinger , March 08, 2010 I seperated from my wife when she became a Jehovah's Witness and want to find out more about this wicked and willful irrationality since my daughter is also involved now and I am concerned especially since this is a very secretive sect. report abuse
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 written by Frank Kavelin , March 08, 2010 Hi Barbara, Whether tens, hundreds or thousands die each year, what can't be lost sight of is that if one person dies as the result of misinterpretion of Scripure, that is one too many. What amplifies the accountability for even one such death is the claim to be God's sole channel of communication by the one presuming to explain the Scriptures. Further compounding that accountability is the demand for unquestioning acceptance and application of the explanation/interpretation, under pain of being cut off. Thank you for including 36.Jman's comments as they so logically expose the fatal flaws of Jehovah's Witnesses' current stand on blood. How poignant that he is an active Witness. Soldier on, Barbara! Love, F. report abuse
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 written by Charles C , March 09, 2010 In France in 2001, the Jw official has given figures concerning the case where there can't find alternative to transfusion in one year. It was 15 cases by year. Ironically, these numbers has been given to the medical community, and not publicly, but a doctor has revealed them in "Le Monde", (October 21,2001) a national newspaper. With this number, i have calculated at this epoch, that if we consider that the medical abilities are the same than in France all over the world (even if we know that France is a developped country) we found a number of 750 cases a year, where the JW don't find alternatives to transfusion See http://tjrecherches.chez.com/lemonde1.htm report abuse
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 written by Victor Benitez , March 09, 2010 Dear Barbara and friends, Thank you so much for your transparent and creditable information. It is quite encouraging to see facts stated with frankness; especially, with a topic such as this one. From Los Angeles Victor report abuse
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 written by Talkactive , March 13, 2010 Dear Barbera. You quoted this: "Certainly there are no concrete figures to back up my claim that thousands die. It is my personal belief just as one Internet poster, Marvin Shilmer, observed on a discussion board. (See following link along with his post.) Nonetheless, there is compelling evidence, some of which Marvin presents that demonstrates the correctness of my assertion." For your and others kind information, The Watchtower back up your claim themself, by making thousands of youngster to martyrs in their own publication: "In former times thousands of youths died for putting God first. They are still doing it, only today the drama is played out in hospitals and courtrooms, with blood transfusions the issue." Awake! - May 22, 1994, p.2 (Official Jehovah's Witness publication) It looks like and roumors tells that The Watchtower Society again will change their blood policy, like they have done in the past with their ban on vaccination and organ transplantation, by letting it be up to each individuals conscience to decide for themselves. The sad thing is that the men behind The Watchtower organization never will admit that they have been wrong in question of their ban on vaccination, organ and blood issues, with sanctions and shunnings, in opposition to what comes forth in James chapter 5 versus 16: 16: Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. They have painted themselves up in a purple red corner painted with the blood of all those their doctrines have maked invalide and sent into a premature death and are carrying a at tremendeous huge blood guilt. They have built a religious house without a railing, which has sent thousands and other thousands, mostly of them in silence at hospitals, into a premature death, as described in Deuteronomy chapter 22 versus 8 and in opposition to what comes forth in Leviticus 17:15, where a Jew in distress, which was given a higher standard, could eat all the blood in a self dead or torn animal, to preserve the most holy for God and humans and not to forget our children, the life itself: 8: When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence. 15: And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean. Only a ceremonial bath and the person was clean against God and the Society, but the men behind the Watchtower organisation have teach and mind controlled their members to believe that they will loose Gods favour and the everlasting life if, they took a blood transfusion and was cut of from rellatives and friends, by their sanctions also. In Matthew chapter 24, Jesus talks about an eveil slave which beat their fellow men and the men behind the Watchtower Society have beated their fellow men into a premature death by their unscriptual doctrines with sanctions by placing themselves at Moses chair. Warmest regards. Talkactive. report abuse
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 written by Karen B. , March 13, 2010 Hi, Barb, Interestingly, I went to a meeting the other night (rare for me now); the bro. was counseling everyone to make certain the elder in charge of one's group (no more book study conductors, you know) had a copy of your DPA card. I work in health care, so I am always cognizant of HIPAA rules; this mandate seems on its face to be in direct violation of HIPAA. Once you make your health information available to one group, which has been adjudged in court not to be able to take advantage of "clergy-penitent privilege," then your private health information is no longer private and no longer protected. Is the org. not aware of this, and so not concerned? I went away thinking "No way would I ever give a copy of my DPA to an individual not related to me and not a member of my medical community." A long time ago when vaccines were the burning question of the day, as well as injections against tetanus because they contained serum, a blood fraction, I learned that the bros in Bethel & Gilead all received these shots when they traveled; I decided if it's good enough for Bethel, it's good enough for me. There cannot be two sets of standards. So I'm with Jman on this. However,unlike Jman, I am having more and more difficulty squaring my knowledge of what is really right & wrong with the organizational directive of what I should believe is right & wrong. Great to see your post, Barbara, and to know you have really been traveling! You are always in my prayers. report abuse
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 written by Joe Emerson , March 14, 2010 It may take a while before I can read all this blog but I plan to do so. I look forward to the discussion of the plasma mentioned on the phone. When it appears on the blog I'd like to put it on christianwitnesses.com on the Blood page. Thanks for being on the phone conferences as it helps educate people better. report abuse
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 written by Andrew , June 21, 2010 My dad is a JW and is about to die right now. He has a tumor 6 inches long and needed a blood transfusion days ago. We got my dad to allow my "wife" to speak with the head nurse yesterday and she told us the JW's had just started looking. I initiated the call to the Watchtower Medical Committee at 718-560-4300 on Friday, and they just got started Sunday (yesterday). When I spoke with the local "elder" that is supposed to be handling this he said they had sent a few emails off. We live in the Dallas, Tx. area. I cannot believe in a moment of crisis these people aren't trying any harder. I started questioning the whole un-organized process and he had the nerve to say "Why aren't you down there taking care of your dad instead of arguing with me?" and then mentioned he had a "meeting" (church)to attend. That made me angry and I said "What?, My dad is dying right this moment because of your beliefs and you are more worried about keeping up appearances with your flock?". I suppose you will use my dad as a "pity" case today at the meeting and tell them how hard you all are working at finding a Dr. willing to work with an alternative surgery? I also found out one of these elders that have been talking to my parents, has got my mom thinking they already have two doctors when they don't. These people have NO MEDICAL BACKGROUND AND NOT VERY ORGANIZED. Thanks for the "vent" here on this forum. I am just frustrated at this moment and wanted to share my immediate experience. We are leaving now to let his 6 grandchildren visit him probably for the last time... - "EX-JW" (took off my "blinders" long ago) report abuse
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 written by yasmin , June 26, 2010 Never underestimate how religions of the world have been used to manipulate / indoctrinate to gain control and power over others. No-one needs to have a specific religion to have a Belief and Faith in God, whether you call HIM God, Allah or Jehovah. 15 year Joshua McAuley from Smethwick, Birmingham, West Midlands, UK died. He refused a blood transfusion. He was a Jehovahs Witness. He was the victim of a road accident. Whether he would've survived had he had a blood transfusion is not known at this time. The coroner has yet to record a verdict as the medical evidence is not yet all in. He should not have made that choice. He was supposed to have taken ALL medical treatment available to him and leave the rest to a much Higher Authority. He refusal to have a blood transfusion will have affected not just his family's life but a whole lot more than people will know until they too pass on from this physical plain of existence. report abuse
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written by yasmin , June 26, 2010 This msg is for Andrew who has posted about his Dad above. Dear Andrew Your Dad must have ALL medical treatment available. I'm sorry if this msg doesn't reach you in time since i have only found this forum today maybe about an hour ago. There is so much more at stake here that just your Dad's life. The following are postings from a public forum posted in facebook. What you are about to read is only a small part of a much larger event that is occuring. Take note of what THEY are saying. ................. " Carrie Lindsay Are accidental deaths meant to happen or are those who die in sudden accidents killed before their time? May 26 at 12:37am · When Spirits Speak How one arrives into our Light is of far less importance than how they lived while here. All who come to your physical plane are meant to remain here as long as humanly possible, and for a multitude of reasons. We are aware that life on your plane is a struggle, yet every experience you gain while you are on this plane is precious, for each day presents an opportunity to transcend the world you are in. You came here not to be human, but to remain a spiritual being; and we will never give up hope that more of you will remember this, but you must take precautions to remain here for the greatest possible length of time for your own benefit, as well as that of others. Something each comes to learn in their own due time. May 30 at 7:29pm · .Dave Allen I have read we plan this experience, pick our circle of souls to interact with and learn from before reincarnating. If so, these 'accidents', as we call them - are they not pre planned or arranged in some perfect order? for what and why, the purposes of possible spiritual growth for those whom we have chosen to coexist with this time around? It is a difficult concept to truely grasp, but fascinating and makes sense in the grand scheme of things. Although I find it horribly difficult to accept my son and I chose him to die prior to this 'visit' on earth (our school of sorts), after a mere 15 months have seen astounding spirituality result in myself and other forms of insight in others that were close to him..would trade it all in a heartbeat of course - is this all pre planned? June 12 at 4:28pm · When Spirits Speak We are familiar with the concept of plans, and coordinating the lives of more than six billion people would certainly be a Heavenly feat. There are those that prescribe to a belief that God has a plan; that events are meant to occur, and do so for a reason. Some refer to this as destiny. Consider, however, that if every event were planned prior to your arrival, then suffering is not only inevitable; it is intended by our Heavenly Light. Were every action planned, as mentioned in a separate post, there would be no reason to help another in their hour of need, and no one on your plane of existence could be held accountable for his or her actions toward one another, as every one of these events would be predestined and therefore meant to occur. To prescribe to the concept of a plan is to accept that you have no control; that human cruelty and frailty are not only accepted, but condoned by our Heavenly Light, and there is no reason to attempt to overcome the adversities you will encounter while you are here. This is not the case though, Dave Allen. We do not condone human cruelty, nor do our children come to this frequency of Light to suffer the cruelty of others or the imbalances brought about during the course of the human journey. Many do, though. Mediums will predict events that often occur at a later date or time. This may suggest that these events are predestined or planned. In truth, these events are not planned prior to your arrival on this physical plane of existence, but instead, after. Through a combination of signs and intuition, those of us with you in spirit will try to guide you on a path that helps you either maintain or challenge your balance; this for the purpose spiritual growth. When we communicate through a medium an event that may occur in your future, later events may transpire that interfere with our plans. For this reason, some predictions do not come to pass, and this is the reason. We are in spirit, and you have family members in spirit with you while you are here. Your son is with you, Dave Allen. He loves you, and he is loved. Follow your intuition. The signs are all around you. We've channeled our presence in so many ways. We are here. We are here. We are here. June 14 at 2:17am ............ report abuse
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written by yasmin , June 26, 2010 From another topic in a pulic forum: ............... 2012 Carrie Lindsay In doing some research, I recently came across several articles and books mentioning theories of what may happen in the year 2012. According to the Mayan calendar, this date marks the end of the world -- the Apocalypse. Here are a few of the theories I have come across: - It is viewed as a time of rebirth, it will mark the end of the patriarchal society as we know it, and shift to a more matriarchal one. - There has also been talk of things unfolding much more rapidly in the years and months approaching the year 2012. What would take years to play out 10 or 20 years ago would unfold in a fraction of the time. - 2010 is a particularly crucial year as Mercury is in retrograde, meaning that certain events will start to happen starting this year, and continuing until 2012. For instance, there will be an increasing number of natural disasters, such as the earthquakes in Haiti and in Chile earlier this year, which are nature's way of re-establishing some sort of balance. Do any of these theories or hypotheses hold any validity? May 20 at 12:48am · When Spirits Speak Each of these theories hold validity, Carrie. Consider, Carrie, that all living things are in a constant state of change, and your Earth is no exception to this rule. Every creature, every human being, and even the planet you live on, is governed by energy. A cell divides, energy is in motion, and the cell is in a perpetual state of change and growth. It will never return to its original state. As the organism evolves, its own balance must be maintained in order for it to contribute to the balance of all others, and balance is the key to the success of all things. Though nature has perfected the art of balance, human beings on this Earth still have much to learn. Consider the signs and the Apocalypse not as and end to be feared, but instead, as a new beginning; a time during which a greater understanding of the Truth of our Light is revealed. May 22 at 8:41pm ......... report abuse
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written by yasmin , June 26, 2010 Barbara I know i've posted more than one posting but all i'm trying to do is prevent unnecassary deaths due to people refusing medical treatment including blood transfusions. I wouldn't even know how or where to begin. Going against an organisation based on religious beliefs that prefers to see people die unnecassrily is a huge task, i caanot do this alone. I'm sure you've read my previous postings. There is more at stake here that just one life. The following is from another public forum. I asked a question not long after Joshua McAuley died, the postings are backwards - ie latest 1st, that's how they appear in the comments pg on this particular website, i apologis if the format is hard to read, please take note of what Catherine and the user "SamWheat" are saying. Barbara, i'll try to connect to you in private in a couple of days: .............. SamWheat211 (3 weeks ago) Spam Marked as spam I think what Catherine's trying to say is, it isn't for us to decide. 1801Catherine1859 (3 weeks ago) Spam Marked as spam He believed he was supposed to die, yet based on whose criteria? Were this the case; were he supposed to die; death would have occurred even had he received the medical treatment offered to prolong his life, and therefore any attempt to preserve life would not have changed the outcome, though the choice would have been that of our Higher Light, and not that of a human being. One must always consider that even the smallest of choices one will make on this physical plane of existence can, and will, affect at least one, if not many other human beings. In crossing, one will see from a different perspective what this means. curlysworld (3 weeks ago) Spam Marked as spam no matter what? what about the boy's religious convictions. He believed he was supposed to die. SamWheat211 (3 weeks ago) Spam Marked as spam We're supposed to try to stay alive as long as we can, no matter what. JaNaBeMa (3 weeks ago) Spam Marked as spam I'm sure this boy thought he was doing the right thing; he thought he was following God's wishes as he interpreted them, or as they were interpreted by his religion, and then taught to him. That's a huge decision for a 15-year-old to make. I think of the doctors, who have helped to save countless lives by giving transfusions. I wonder how they feel, how they cope with having to step back from this. SamWheat211 (3 weeks ago) Spam Marked as spam That is, provided we were ever unstable to begin with. SamWheat211 (3 weeks ago) Spam Marked as spam What it comes down to Yaz is, were his intentions to do what he thought in his s oul was right? Or were his intentions to put an end to his life? He has to make that call in the end. No one else can decide. When you leave and you realize what you did to the people you love, sometimes we can be pretty hard on ourselves. It can make us more unstable than we were in the first place. curlysworld (3 weeks ago) Spam Marked as spam That's an interesting point, Yas (Hello, by the way  ) It sounds to me like a bit of a grey area. Jonbrandiswife27 (3 weeks ago) Spam Marked as spam LavenderDreams,yea I'm going to a thrapist and yes it does take a lot of courage to admit that I'm lost and need help.No,there is no shame in it,and I think it's good that you're seeing a therapist for your depression as well.It is the best thing I can do for myself and be there for Kari's daughter.Yes Kirsty is right,her little girl is going to need me to know who her daughter really is.You guys are so right. yasminjananjum (3 weeks ago) Spam Marked as spam Speaking of intentions is it suicide or an accident if as the result of a serious injury in a car accident that a 15 yr old Jehovah's Witness refuses to be given blood and dies as a consequence, knowing that he would leave family grieving ? ........... report abuse
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written by yasmin , June 26, 2010 The death of one causes the death of unknown other. " Two Souls ONE LIGHT " Consider Adam and Eve...... not literal, but Balance.... report abuse
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