Jehovah's Witnesses are deeply religious people who try to live their lives according to the commands of God as written in the Old and New Testaments. They regard Jesus Christ as a Son of God, but not in the sense of being equal with God or one with God.

Special occasions

The only festival celebrated is the annual memorial of the death of Christ. The date of this varies. This is the only occasion on which Jehovah's Witnesses receive the emblems of bread and wine (Holy Communion).

Special Considerations

Jehovah's Witnesses have sincerely held views, based on the Bible, that taking blood into one's body is morally wrong. This includes whole blood or its components, such as packed red cells, plasma, white cells and platelets. Jehovah's Witnesses are allowed to choose about whether to accept products such as albumin, immunoglobulins or clotting factors.

Blood samples may be taken for pathological testing as long as any unused blood is disposed of and not reused.

Dialysis will usually be accepted provided that no other source of blood is used.

Jehovah's Witnesses will accept medical treatment in all other respects apart from those involving the use of blood or blood components.

Jehovah's Witnesses do not usually celebrate birthdays or Christmas.

Diet

Food containing blood or blood products is not acceptable.

Jehovah's Witnesses do not smoke

Care of the Dying

There are no special rituals for be dying but they usually appreciate a visit from one of the Elders of their faith. (There are no separate clergy.)

Post Mortem

Jehovah's Witnesses will want reassurance that blood will not be used against their wishes.

Organ Transplantation

There are no particular rites at death. Routine last offices are appropriate.

This is a matter of individual choice for the family.

In general there are no religious objections. Components where blood is not involved, as with corneas, are more likely to be acceptable. Jehovah's Witnesses are not likely to be willing either to donate or receive an organ through which blood flows.