Physician-Assisted Suicide
Dear Rabbi Dr Halperin, My name is Victoria McKinnon and I am a Master of Studies student in Theology at the University of Oxford. I
I have just completed an acupuncture course and was wondering about the halakhic opinions on acupuncture and alternative medicine.
Before any halakhic answer can be given, it is necessary to know the facts and details of the case in question.
Regarding acupuncture, there is no halakhic problem with its use if it will alleviate the problem. However, if there is no evidence that the treatment will help or if there is a doubt of its effectiveness, it is only permissible to use if it will not cause any damage or if it will not prevent the patient from receiving essential (proven) treatment.
This principle is also applicable to alternative medicine. An article on this subject has been written by Rabbi Shlomo Aviner in Assia 45-46, pp. 62-8, and is written in Hebrew. If you are interested in obtaining a copy, please let me know and I will send it to you via post.
Dear Rabbi Dr Halperin, My name is Victoria McKinnon and I am a Master of Studies student in Theology at the University of Oxford. I
שלום רב, השאלה נוגעת לגבי שבת א. האם מותר בשבת לשאוב במשאבה ידנית חלב אם ? ב. מה הדין של חלב זה לשימושו בשבת עצמה