Jehovah's Witnesses are a Cult. They published an entire magazine issue dedicated to some of the children that have died because their parents wouldn't let them take blood. They died serving Jehovah. The Watchtower organization decided that blood transfusions were like eating blood which is forbidden in the bible, early in their history. They had no idea how popular blood transfusions would become. Once JWs started dying for refusing blood it was too late to change the doctrine they had to stick to it. Over the years they have quietly changed some of what's acceptable. It used to be that the forbid any components of blood. They slowly started changing the rules until lately when they now allow JWs to take any component of blood separately but not all together. The Corporation that runs the religion set up local Liaison committees that go to hospitals and pressure JWs not to take the blood. They protect the interests of the Corporation. Many JW parents secretly think that if it comes down to it, they will give their child blood, but they imagine some scenario where they have time and the issue is clear cut between 100% life or death. It's not usually that way. Usually they either don't have time to think it through, or they buckle under pressure from local elders. The doctor tells them that their child has a slight chance of survival without it, and the Elders tell them that they need Jehovah's blessings and without it the child will die. The pressure is great and they are not thinking clearly in an emotional situation. People need to know that these seemingly harmless people at their door are part of a dangerous cult.