attending a diabetic clinic that runs on Saturday mornings
Dear Rabbi Halperin My name is B M. I am a South African doctor currently working in a government hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa. I
Shalom,
Masjalomchem? I really obtained very good memories and a lot of useful information from my stay in your Institute. Nice to have contacts afterwards with a lot of fellow students!
Now a sudden question riseshere in our hospital. A patient of 96 said lately she did want a PEG-feeding (Isuppose this is the right nomenclature in English). (She is even Jewish Isuppose). But right now, despite her being bright with very limited speech, she makes clear she does not want any artificial feeding anymore. The physicianwants the advice of our Medical Committee. Do you know someone amongst you that can give me a Halachic advice? In short term? I would be very obliged.
Very warm greetings,
G
Dear Dr. Decker,
1. From your email it seemed that the PEG operation may not have been performed yet. In that case, there is no obligation to undergo a surgical procedure to enable the feeding against the patient's clear wishes to discontinue her life. (See Asia VIII, pp. 24-25)
2. There is a difference, though, between a competent, communicative patient and a demented or unresponsive one. Food is considered a "natural need" that must be continued in demented and unresponsive patients (https://www.medethics.org.il/db/showQ.asp?id=4148; https://www.medethics.org.il/articles/JME/JMEM13/JMEM.13.5.asp).
3. For a general discussion regarding end of life issues, see article by Rabbi Y. Dovid Kaye: https://www.medethics.org.il/articles/JME/JMEM13/JMEM.13.4.asp
Respectfully,
Meir Orlian
Dear Rabbi Halperin My name is B M. I am a South African doctor currently working in a government hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa. I
שלום, האם מותר שגבר-מטפל יעשה לי עיסוי או רפלקסולוגיה? המטפל הינו מומחה. תודה.
Dear Team at Schlesinger Institute I hope you are all well.Just wanted your views and possibly to point us towards some literature about the following case:Lady
שוכט"ס אשה בת 39 נשואה מזה כשנה, עברה הפלה (כדלהלן) ומאוד מאוד מאוד רוצה להיכנס להריון בהקדם האפשרי.מאידך, יש מהרופאים (אחר ההפלה האחרונה) שאמרו לה