NOTE: For professional medical advice, please contact your physician.
6
votes
2answers
99 views
May one refuse pain killers?
Given that one may not intentionally injure herself - see Rambam (Chovel U’mazik 5:1) and Shulchan Aruch (Choshen Mishpat 420:31) who rules that it is forbidden for a person to injure herself. ...
0
votes
2answers
74 views
Are homeopathic remedies kosher?
I'm not sure what they put in the remedies but I would like to know if they are kosher and would batel beshishim apply in this case if there was a non-kosher ingredient?
5
votes
1answer
73 views
are bionic abilities legal for shabbos
Today the world is high in technology; many medical fields are experiencing breakthroughs in artificial limbs and what not.
What are the legalities of these in Jewish law?
For example, a pace maker ...
5
votes
1answer
139 views
What is the source for Rambam's “physician's oath”?
A physician friend pointed out to me the Rambam's "physician's oath" (it doesn't look like an oath per se, but that's what it's called), which begins (in English):
The eternal providence has ...
4
votes
0answers
32 views
Are placebos permitted without telling the person they are getting one?
Does Judaism allow placebos where the person thinks it does something, and is thereby cured, even though the item does nothing?
Is this gnevas da'as (or some other issur), or because it can help them ...
2
votes
0answers
49 views
Can members of Hatzalah learn how to deliver a baby?
This seems like a very simple thing. Is there anything wrong with male members of hatzalaha (a frum Jewish emergency medical organization) learning how to deliver a baby? I recently heard that ...
13
votes
2answers
209 views
May a man become a gynecologist?
Is there any discussion among the halachic authorities as to whether or not a man can choose to pursue a medical career in gynaecology? The issue that I would presume exists is that unlike other parts ...
5
votes
2answers
99 views
If Avraham had a healing stone why did he need an angel to heal him?
The Gemara in Baba Basra, Tes Zayin Amud Beis says Reb Shimon says that Avraham had a stone that he wore around his neck that healed the sick. If so why did he need a angel to come down to heal him ...
0
votes
1answer
41 views
Stitches on Shabbos
If someone cut their finger (lo aleinu!) on Shabbos in a way that wasn't going to threaten them however is a fairly deep cut may they get stitches put in by a non-Jew on Shabbos? Theoretically they ...
4
votes
2answers
131 views
Exercises to prevent eyes tiring
It often happens to me that after learning the whole day and reading lots of text especially with small letters I feel my eyes very tired. Who knows good set of exercises that don't takes lot of time, ...
5
votes
1answer
53 views
How to handle cadavers
My fiance is going to university, working towards a degree in dentistry. For about a year, she will be required to handle cadavers in the classes. First of all, is this forbidden in Torah? Secondly, ...
3
votes
1answer
89 views
Bald men and kippot
How do bald men keep kippah srugas from falling off? (not l'maaseh yet, b"h)
I got a short haircut and am having serious issues, especially in the wind!
3
votes
0answers
52 views
Difference between 'rafa' and 'ripa'
The root רפא, "heal", is used in various places in Tanach, sometimes in binyan paal and sometimes in binyan piel. I wonder what the difference is between these. Does any Tanach commentator, or the ...
3
votes
2answers
454 views
What's with the 5th rib killing?
2 Sam. 20:10:
וַעֲמָשָׂא לֹא נִשְׁמַר בַּחֶרֶב אֲשֶׁר בְּיַד יוֹאָב וַיַּכֵּהוּ בָהּ אֶל הַחֹמֶשׁ וַיִּשְׁפֹּךְ מֵעָיו אַרְצָה וְלֹא שָׁנָה לוֹ וַיָּמֹת
M'tzudos says this means he stabbed him ...
1
vote
3answers
68 views
Maimonides advice about dieting
Maimonides (a.k.a: Harambam, or Rabbi Mosheh Ben Maimon), who was a well-known medieval physician and a philosopher, gave some useful (and common sense) pieces of advice about dieting:
Eat according ...
2
votes
1answer
45 views
Resuscitation of Aged Nursing Home Patients
Recently, there was a story about an 87-year-old woman who suffered a heart attack in a nursing home. The nursing home called 911 and the dispatcher begged the nurse to do CPR on the patient until the ...
6
votes
1answer
89 views
Where does Ramban discuss OCD and the mikvah?
I was told that the Ramban writes regarding women who have awful problems using the mikvah because they keep worrying they're not clean enough -- in today's terms, we call that obsessive-compulsive ...
3
votes
2answers
176 views
Nebulizer on Yom Kippur
Is someone who suffers from asthma and needs to use a nebulizer to make it easier for them to breath (not pekuach nefesh) allowed to use it on Yom Kippur? (In a way of course that it'll be turned on ...
0
votes
1answer
62 views
Is “Ambien” kosher for Pesach?
Is Ambien (taken to help sleep) kosher for Pesach? Also, is there a difference between the Ambien made in USA vs. made in Israel?
2
votes
1answer
106 views
Postmortem organ donation in halacha
I know we generally accord respect to our dead, which includes not mangling their bodies. On the other hand, obviously saving lives is more important than, well, almost anything, including respect for ...
4
votes
2answers
171 views
Yichud with someone who can't have an erection
If a man is in a physical situation where he is unable to have an erection will there still be an issur of yichud (the prohibition of being alone with someone that it is forbidden to have relations ...
5
votes
1answer
87 views
Cutting pills on Shabbos
Assuming your rabbi already permits you to take medicine on Shabbos for a serious chronic disease. If your doctor increases your dosage by half a pill, and the pill is already pre-scored to make it ...
0
votes
1answer
77 views
Children of a Cohen who had a vasectomy
A previously asked question on this site was whether a Cohen who had undergone a vasectomy may get married. Assuming that he is permitted to marry in such a case - if he has a child (through invitro ...
6
votes
2answers
183 views
Is Cohen who had a vasectomy allowed to Bless?
Is Cohen who had a vasectomy allowed to Bless the congregation? Also marry? What happens if he does marry?
1
vote
1answer
64 views
Preventive Medicine on Shabbas
Is one allowed to take medicine on shabbas to help prevent something?
Can one for example take tums before eating a meal because he knows he will get heartburn after?
9
votes
2answers
124 views
Which kidney should you donate?
All things being equal medically, if a person is going to donate a kidney is there halachic or hashkafic reason to presume donating one kidney would be better than the other?
5
votes
3answers
152 views
Unusual applications of Asher Yatzar
Does the blessing of Asher Yatzar (normally said upon using the bathroom) apply in other situations. For example in passing a kidney or gallstone? A woman who's water breaks or passes her mucus plug? ...
11
votes
7answers
328 views
Do surgically removed body parts require Kevurah?
If one has surgery (may it never be necessary) that requires the removal of an organ of the body (e.g. a gallbladder or appendix), is burial required? Or can the body part simply be discarded?
4
votes
0answers
104 views
Must a parent vaccinate her child?
Is a parent compelled by Halacha to vaccinate her child if it can be statistically proven that, without the vaccine, the likelihood of the child contracting the disease that he is being vaccinated for ...
2
votes
0answers
64 views
Segulah to remove bone stuck in one's throat
The Gemorah in Shabbos Daf 67a gives a segulah for someone who has a bone stuck in their throat to get it out. The Gemorah says to bring another bone of the same type, put it on the person's head and ...
14
votes
3answers
191 views
Must EMTs and others rend Kriyah each time they see a patient die?
I was looking at Yoreh De'ah 40:5 (יו"ד סימן ש"מ ס"ק ה) and Moed Katan 25b (כה עמוד ב), which require Kriyah (garment-rending) for all who are there at the time of death. It would seem to me that an ...
4
votes
1answer
120 views
Where is the source not to walk over someone because it stops him growing?
I have been brought up with the belief not to walk over someone because it can stunt their growth. Can anyone else here say where they have also heard of this? If yeah, where is the source?
12
votes
1answer
239 views
In case of diphallia, how is brit-milah affected?
Diphallia is a rare medical condition in which a male infant is born with two penises.
Does brit-milah requires both penises to be circumcised? Is there any reference in the litterature about such ...
5
votes
2answers
127 views
Headache remedy on a fast day?
Even with proper pre-fast hydration and caffeine reduction, I almost always get a headache starting around hour 20-22 of a fast and growing from there. Taking a nap is sometimes possible and ...
2
votes
0answers
58 views
Sources on the Halachic status of creating three parent child
See here for the background. The basic idea is that the DNA is taken from the mother and father, but rather than traditional IVF, the nucleus is implanted in a donor egg. So there is no male donor ...
5
votes
3answers
201 views
Onot perisha with birth control
If a woman is using birth control pills (after consulting with a rabbi) with a longer-than-one-month cycle, when are her onot perisha? For example, suppose the woman becomes nidda every 3 or 4 months; ...
4
votes
1answer
254 views
Kosher status of medicine that comes in a gel capsule
What are the kashruth issues involved in the taking of non-prescription gel-capsule medicine which does not have kosher certification?
4
votes
1answer
103 views
May one have augmentative cosmetic surgery?
I realize much of the discussion on plastic surgery can be found in the answers to this question. However, the actual question was only addressing nose surgery. I would like to to know:
If there ...
12
votes
3answers
360 views
Should one induce vomiting upon realizing s/he just ate non-kosher?
I've heard several stories of people who ate something, realized it was non-kosher, and therefore induced vomiting. Is this halachically required? Recommended? Does it accomplish anything? (If not, ...
5
votes
3answers
222 views
10
votes
3answers
267 views
DNA and Jewish Law
Why isn't DNA seen as a valid source of Halachic decision making?
Is it because it's too small for the naked eye? A margin of error propblem? What?
Normally, physical evidence is plenty of ...
13
votes
5answers
282 views
Is one allowed to smoke?
Nowadays, since there are studies that show that smoking is dangerous to health, is one allowed to smoke or is it violating "Venishmartem Meod Lenafshosechem"?
6
votes
2answers
124 views
Bleeding gums on Shabbos
If someone has gum disease and his gums frequently (or always) bleed when he eats, is he restricted to a liquid diet on Shabbos and Yom Tov?
8
votes
2answers
461 views
Are Jewish women permitted to use birth control that stops menstruation?
Is there any reason that a Jewish woman who has permission from her Rabbi to use birth control could not choose a pill that stops her from menstruating? Although certain birth control pills are ...
4
votes
1answer
138 views
Permissibility of removing wisdom teeth
Dentists often recommend that teenagers have their wisdom teeth extracted to avoid future problems. However, the medical need for these extractions is unclear at best. Is removing teeth without ...
10
votes
1answer
266 views
According to Halacha, does one have to bury teeth?
Is there a halachic obligation to bury teeth that have fallen out, just as one buries other body parts that become detached?
If not, why?
Does the same apply to detached skin? Or hair?
Related: Do ...
4
votes
0answers
62 views
Is the idea that there is always at least one illness with an unknown cure - a Jewish idea?
I have heard many times that there will always be at least one illness that is uncurable. Is this a Jewish idea? What is its source?
1
vote
0answers
149 views
Must a woman cover her hair during childbirth?
Does a woman need to cover her hair during childbirth or other major medical procedures?
7
votes
1answer
81 views
Beracha on Intravenous
There Gemara Berachot 35 says "anyone who enjoys from this world without a Beracha is stealing."
Does one make a Beracha on intravenous feeding?
8
votes
3answers
243 views
Sonogram (ultrasonography) on Infant for Gender
It seems there are some people who specifically don't want to know their baby's gender before birth. Is there any halachic basis to this, or is it just superstition?
