Ask The Chaplain

Ask The Chaplain

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Are Blood Transfusions WRONG?


Although the Bible does not specifically mention this medical practice, we do not believe God will condemn one for having a transfusion. Some religious groups have misinterpreted God's command against eating blood (Leviticus 3:17), mistakenly extending it to receiving blood by transfusions. Ingesting blood and receiving it into the circulatory system are not the same thing. God specifically commands against the eating of blood, a prohibition reiterated in the New Testament as tied to idolatrous worship (Acts 15:19-20, 29).

While having a transfusion is not a sin, a proficient doctor would advise that medical risks are involved, as in any transmission of bodily fluids. Thus, one ought to weigh these risks and the anticipated benefits carefully.

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