Jehovah’s Witnesses have changed their policy so followers may personally decide whether to accept transfusions of red cells, white cells, plasma or platelets derived from another person’s blood. The denomination still prohibits whole-blood transfusions, but medical ethics experts say the change could improve patient safety and reduce conflicts between religious beliefs and urgent medical treatment.

The ruling follows an earlier decision allowing members to use their own stored blood for transfusions. It affects about 144,000 Witnesses in the UK and may reduce court cases involving children whose parents previously refused blood-based treatment; a campaign group estimates such refusals are linked to around 1,200 excess deaths annually. Members may also choose whether to donate blood for another person’s components or fractions, with decisions described as matters of individual conscience.