Jehovah's Witnesses and Their Compliance with Regulations on Smoking and Blood Treatment.

Barbara Pavlikova,Jitse P Van Dijk

doi:10.3390/ijerph19010387

Abstract

Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs) are known as a religious group compliant with the national laws in the case of smoking, but not-compliant when it comes to blood treatment. Their beliefs prevent them from taking part in a blood transfusion, which is widely included in standard methods of a life-saving treatment. The aim of this study was to compare the behavior of JWs regarding their approach to blood treatment and to smoking in relation to legal regulations in the field of health. We measured JWs’ compliance with health laws regarding blood treatment and smoking (the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control—FCTC). We used the concept of a semi-autonomous social field by Moore and the theory of planned behavior developed by Ajzen. Our findings show that in the case of JWs, the group rules often prevail over state rules contained in generally-binding legislation. In the case of smoking, this means that they seem compliant to the FCTC and to their group rules. In the case of blood treatment, it seems that they are breaking the national rules, because of their group rules. Breaking the latter can result in exclusion from the JWs community. JWs are compliant with national laws as long as these are congruent with their own group rules. If this is not the case, the group influence is very strong and the fear of exclusion from the JW group is often greater than the potential negative health consequences in real life.

Highlights

The Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs), founded in 1872, are an outgrowth of the InternationalBible Students Association
We focus on the behavior of a religious group represented by Jehovah’s Witnesses in regard to smoking and blood treatment in terms of legal regulations, with special attention paid to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and health laws regulating blood transfusions
We focused on legal regulations contained in legislation, with special attention paid to the FCTC and other health laws

Summary

Introduction

The Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs), founded in 1872, are an outgrowth of the International. A member believed that Jehovah is the true God and that the Witnesses were his specially chosen followers. JWs base their moral code on the Bible and on the principles of sanctity of life, honesty and avoiding sexual misconduct, substance abuse (including smoking), superstitiousness, and angry behavior. JWs do not celebrate most holidays or events that people celebrate as non-religious holidays, such as birthdays, but they do not celebrate religious holidays such as Christmas and Easter. JWs are extremely shunning to non-JWs or former members, including family members. JWs are advised not to join groups outside the JWs faith and are discouraged from higher education [3]

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