A.L.Karchevsky

The material in [5] is devoted to the same issue – blood fractions. In this work, there is no longer a logical course of "whole and parts". The justification for refusing blood transfusions is the phrase:

«… Time passed, and medicine developed. Today, the most common transfusion is not of whole blood, but of one of its main components: 1) erythrocytes; 2) leukocytes; 3) platelets; 4) plasma (serum) of blood, that is, its liquid part. Depending on the patient's condition, he may be prescribed a transfusion of red blood cell, leukocyte, platelet mass or plasma. Transfusion of only one of the main components allows one unit of blood to be used for transfusions to several patients. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that transfusions of both whole blood and any of its four basic components are contrary to God's law."

That is, the OSB seems to say: "We reject blood transfusions, since now they mainly transfuse components (that is, parts!) blood, we reject this too." It seems logical here, but again the cunningly twisted logic makes itself felt literally in the very next paragraph:

«… Since not only the main but also its smaller components, or fractions, can be isolated from blood, the following questions arise: How are such fractions of blood used, and what should guide a Christian when deciding whether such treatment is acceptable to him?"

It is absolutely incomprehensible why "the following questions arise," since blood for a Jehovah's Witness cannot be donated as a donor, cannot be stored, and it is holy. If these are all sinful acts, tell me, what does Jehovah's Witnesses care about the development of medicine in this matter?! Jehovah's Witnesses read with disgust in the articles of the OSB how pagans drank blood in ancient Rome. However, the "logical moves" that have been demonstrated above suggest that if a Gentile were to break down the process of drinking blood into some discrete parts, first into the main and then into smaller ones, Jehovah's Witnesses would be interested in this and wonder how he could use some small part of the process.

Only one answer suggests itself - the OSB really wanted to allow the use of blood products.

The argument "whole and parts" from [4] is contradicted by the phrase from [5]:

"Should Christians agree to the use of these fractions in their treatment? We cannot answer this question. The Bible does not contain any specific instructions on this matter, and therefore the Christian himself needs to make a deliberate decision before God."

Since OSB allows you to transfuse all substances that are part of the plasma, we can formulate practical advice for practicing doctors:

"If you need to give a plasma transfusion to a Jehovah's Witness patient, never tell him that you are going to transfuse the plasma. On the contrary, tell him that you pour him water to replenish the volume of circulating blood and prevent dehydration, inject him with albumin, immunoglobulins and fibrinogen so that each performs its function, and some organic and inorganic substances to improve the composition of the blood. And that's it! The conscience of Jehovah's Witness will be clear, he will agree to this procedure. And you will be relieved of unnecessary and lengthy proceedings and scandals with this Jehovah's Witness, his representatives, the elder of the congregation that this Jehovah's Witness visits, and representatives from the nearest Hospital Liaison Committee, whom the elder and the patient are obliged to invite in difficult times."

From the latest "enlightenments" of anonymous authors of OSB publications, it became known [5] that Jehovah's Witnesses can agree to the use of drugs prepared with the use of blood components and from formed elements, which was previously not allowed:

"Different fractions of blood – its smaller components – are obtained not only from plasma, but also from other main components of blood (erythrocytes, leukocytes and platelets). Thus, interferons and interleukins are obtained from leukocytes, which are used to treat some viral infections and malignant diseases. Factors that promote wound healing are obtained from platelets. Other medications are also emerging, which (at least for now) contain smaller components of blood. Treatment with these drugs involves transfusion not of the main components of the blood, but of their particles, or fractions. Should Christians agree to the use of these factions in their treatment? We cannot answer this question. The Bible does not contain any specific instructions on this matter, and therefore the Christian himself needs to make a deliberate decision before God."

The last two sentences of the quote indicate to the Jehovah's Witness reading these lines that if he agrees to the use of these drugs, the OSB will not accuse him of violating God's "law" of abstaining from blood.

Thus, similar to the above counsel, a practicing physician who has encountered a Jehovah's Witness in his work who insists that he should abstain from blood may compose a similar text if it is necessary to transfuse the patient with red blood cells, platelets, or leukocytes.