New rules on Jehovah's Witnesses blood transfusions explained as follower, 26, dies just days before policy shift

Detailed summary

As a lifelong Jehovah’s Witness, Isaac Valdez, 26, carried a strict "’No Blood’ card in his wallet which legally forbade doctors from carrying out any form of blood transfusion

The family of a young Jehovah’s Witness who died after refusing a life-saving blood transfusion have spoken of their anger after the religious group lifted its 81-year ban just days later.

In August this year, 26-year-old Isaac Valdez suffered an epileptic seizure while browsing in his local library in Waxahachie, Texas. The severity of the convulsion caused him to strike his head heavily against the ground, knocking him unconscious.

He was rushed to hospital, where doctors discovered the force of the impact had caused a severe brain haemorrhage.

However, medical treatment was immediately complicated. As a lifelong Jehovah’s Witness, Mr Valdez carried a strict "No Blood" card in his wallet, legally forbidding doctors from administering any form of blood transfusion.

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