This is an urgent request for guidance. My grandfather has lung cancer and has very severe difficulty breathing. His cancer is no longer responding to chemotherapy or radiotherapy and we have been told that he has only a short time to live. He is suffering terribly, mainly because he cannot breathe. His doctors have suggested that he be started on a morphine infusion. They said that this may relieve his suffering, but that it also may make him drowsy and that it may slow his breathing. Although I am satisfied that this is not euthanasia, I am concerned that slowing his breathing may shorten the amount of time he has to live. I know that everything must be done to help him live longer and I am concerned that giving morphine is an ‘aveira. I have asked my family not to give consent until I have spoken to a credible halakhic authority and he says it’s permissible.
It is permissible to give morphine to relieve pain, etc., provided that that is the only intention and the doses given are carefully controlled and monitored for that purpose only.
האם לגבר שהוציאו לו אשך מצד אחד עקב גידול. מותר לעשות ניתוח פלסטי להוספת אשך שאינו אמיתי.
הרקע: הנני מוהל. מלתי ביום שישי, ובאחריותי באופן הרגיל הנני שומר קשר ביממה הראשונה עד להורדת התחבושת ביום למחרת – מוצאי שבת. נתבקשתי ע"י ההורים