Subject: The
Use of Curosurf®
Answered by:
Rabbi Mordechai Halperin, M.D.
Shalom,
Curosurf® (poractant alfa) is an intratracheal suspension used by
healthcare professionals for the prevention and treatment of Respiratory
Distress Syndrome (RDS) in premature infants. The active ingredient of this
natural surfactant is the phospholipid fraction obtained from porcine lung.
1. Is it
permitted, according to the Jewish Law (Halacha) to use Curosurf®
for Jewish infants?
2. Is it
allowed, according to the Jewish Law to take a part in manufacturing of such
medication?
Thank
you in advance,
The position of
Jewish Halacha towards Curosurf®
(a porcine derived surfactant) - A summary document
Facts
Curosurf® (poractant alfa) is an intratracheal suspension used by
healthcare professionals for the prevention and treatment of Respiratory
Distress Syndrome (RDS) in premature infants. The active ingredient of this
natural surfactant is the phospholipid fraction obtained from porcine lung.
The
fact that Curosurf is obtained from porcine lung, may
raise some halachic questions related to its use for Jewish people, as the hog
is one of the major symbols of forbidden animals in Jewish tradition.
Halachic topics
The halachic
discussion is associated with 4 topics:
1.
The bans related to pigs: prohibition of eating pork; trade
prohibition with forbidden animals; and the specific taboo against growing
pigs, which has a special severity if it is done in the Land of Israel.
2.
The halachic distinction between intratracheal infiltration and
esophageal insertion (normal eating).
3.
The well-established principle of Jewish halacha, that life-saving
procedure takes precedence over the observance of most halachic rulings.
4.
The fact that the natural surfactant originally developed at Italy
is still manufactured there and shows no influence on the taboo against growing
pigs in the Land of Israel.
The
introduction of surfactant replacement therapy has contributed to the dramatic
decrease of mortality in the premature: in the 1980s (prior to surfactant) a
baby born around 28 week gestational age had a 50-70% survival rate whilst
nowadays that same baby has a 90% chance of survival. Therefore it should be
considered as a life-saving procedure.
Halachic
conclusion
The use of Curosurf® as surfactant replacement therapy is clearly
permitted according to the strict Jewish Halacha.
Anyone interested in further sources can address me by email ([email protected]). In addition, it is advisable to examine R. Moshe Aharonson’s Resp. Yeshu’at Moshe
3:117 (pp. 254-256) and the sources cited there.
Subject: Fetal reduction:discussion in
the Dutch parliament Answered by: Rabbi Mordechai Halperin, M.D.
Shalom rav,
I live
in Jerusalem and write in Dutch for Dutch publications.
In the
past I wrote several times about medical halachic research in your institute
where Bible believers, not only Jews can ask questions.
At the
moment there is a discussion in the Dutch parliament re in vitro fertilization.
When a fertilized (in vitro) ovum has a cancer gene such an embryo is not being
used, it is being discarded. Only those embryo’s that do not have this cancer
gene are being implanted in the womb.
The
question is what Jewish halacha says about this
Is it
permissible to discard an embryo with this cancer gene or must it be implanted
in the womb?
Date: July 2008
I thank
you in anticipation for an answer to this halachic question.
1. According to the Jewish
Law it is permissible perform a PGD test in order to prevent severe health
problems from the offspring, and to use only the healthy embryos.
2. When an IVF of several eggs produces healthy and
unhealthy embryos,the unhealthy in-vitro embryos may
be discarded.
Further sources: Dr. Daniel Eisenberg, Multifetal
Pregnancy Reduction In Halacha; Steinberg A, Abortion
for fetal CNS malformations: religious aspects. Childs Nerv
Syst 19:592-5,2003.