Teachings   Legal Liability for False Teachings

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Teachings Promote Suspicion of Medical Professionals 

The Watchtower Society (WT) has been speaking out against medical care and physicians for well over a century.  Decades before its infamous prohibition of blood transfusions, the WT depicted medical treatment in an extremely negative light, suggesting physicians are incompetent, evil conspirators and many medical treatments are unnecessary and harmful.  Click here for a brochure detailing shocking, bizarre teachings about medicine, including WT literature citations you can verify yourself.

Although not previously prohibited (See Consolation, 12/25/1940, pg.19) Jehovah’s Witnesses now refuse to accept medical treatment or eat foods containing blood products. (See Watchtower, 7/1/1945, pgs.198-201; Blood, Medicine, and the Law of God, pg.55; Watchtower, 11/15/1964, pgs.680-683; Watchtower, 6/15/2000, pg.31) They base this practice on a quote from the Bible regarding staying away from religious rituals utilizing animal blood. They claim God wishes these principles to be applied to blood transfusions and foods.  Much doctrinal flip-flopping has been done on this issue.  For example, rules about accepting blood fractions or dialysis have been changed, arguably of little comfort to those whose loved ones died for following the "old" rules.

Although this doctrine was never based upon concerns over infection, Jehovah’s Witnesses now claim that blood borne infections and other negative consequences may be divine punishment to those who violate this rule.   “Moral insanity, sexual perversions, repression, inferiority complexes, petty crimes--these often follow in the wake of blood transfusion." (See WATCHTOWER, 9/15/1961, pg. 564; WATCHTOWER, 10/15/00, pgs. 30-31; HOW CAN BLOOD SAVE YOUR LIFE?; Watchtower, 6/1/1990 pgs. 29-30; Watchtower, 8/15/1990, pg. 29; Watchtower 01/15/1991 pg. 29; library of images depicting previous Watchtower views on blood and vaccinations.)  Despite the subsequent advances in medical knowledge, it is difficult to find an official Watchtower Society retraction of these statements.

Jehovah’s Witnesses are adamant about following this principle, at the penalty of shunning for violating it. Therefore, most Jehovah’s Witnesses will refuse medical care that involves blood products, even if it means dying or allowing their children to die. (See Awake, 5/22/1994, pg.2)  More information about this topic can be found at www.ajwrb.org.

Legal Liability for False Teachings

The Journal of Church and State, a prestigious legal publication in the United States, published a groundbreaking article in its Autumn 2005 issue regarding Jehovah's Witnesses and blood transfusions.  Stories about this article were publicized internationally by the media.  A copy of the article can be purchased for a nominal amount by clicking here.

The article is expected to indicate that the Watchtower Society is at significant risk for Tort of Misrepresentation lawsuits.  (For basic information about the WT's rule against accepting blood products, or visit www.ajwrb.org.  Click here to obtain a printable brochure detailing the long history of medical misrepresentations by the Watchtower Society, or click here to obtain a printable brochure discussing shocking, bizarre teachings about medicine and science in the WT's history.)

Over the years, the Watchtower Society has repeatedly discussed medical information in its literature and oral teachings, consistently misrepresenting and hiding medical facts about the actual risks of refusing blood products.  According to the legal article, this may make them legally liable for deaths and other harm resulting from following its false advice.

The Hughes Story

International media reported the plight of Bethany Hughes, a Jehovah's Witness child who lost her fight against leukemia after a court battle for her refusal of blood products. ("B.C. Supreme Court orders blood transfusion for teen", 4/12/2005; "Father sues Jehovah's Witnesses, hospital over teen's death", 8/27/2004)

Lawrence Hughes, the child's father, experienced religious sanctions and marital discord as a consequence of attempting to authorize appropriate medical care for his daughter.

The child's mother reportedly defied a Canadian court order to allow blood transfusions and disappeared with the child, only to resurface after initiating unconventional treatment.

(At right, a photograph of Bethany Hughes.)

Mr. Hughes states:

"The WTS (Watchtower) lawyer, HLC members (Hospital Liason Committee--a group of Jehovah's Witness Elders) and the doctor deceived Bethany and lied to her, convincing her that Arsenic would cure her. Bethany was convinced that Arsenic could cure her and was curing her. Bethany and the WTS lawyers stated in Court and in the media that the treatment was a cure for her disease ( AML Leukemia) and that Bethany was getting better. Bethany stated in her affidavit and on TV that the treatment was working, was curative and that she was looking forward to taking a trip to Disneyland and going back to school in a month.  I sent Bethany's medical records to three specialists and they all agree that Arsenic is not a treatment for AML Leukemia and that it did not offer Bethany any chance of a cure and that with standard medical treatments, Bethany's chance of recovery would be between 30 - 50%."

*Mr. Hughes is not affiliated with the webmaster of jwinfo.8m.com.  If you have questions, please contact him directly.