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a few minutes. After discussing this with his wife, he agreed to go 6 # 20818
to the clinic, although he claimed he felt fine and he wanted to go
to work. An examination and electrocardiogram did not reveal any
abnormalities. The facts did not satisfy the physician, however, and
he wanted to send him to the hospital by ambulance. The patient ad- ORDERING AN AMBULANCE
amantly refused. After much convincing, he agreed to go in his private FOR A PATIENT WHO HAS
car. When he reached his car he collapsed and died. 42 OFTEN COMPLAINED
The wife of the patient took the physician to court, claiming he did WHEN THERE WAS
not adequately persuade her husband and did not inform him of all NOTHING WRONG WITH
the possible dangers in order to convince him to go to the hospital by HIM
ambulance. Her claim was accepted by the court and the physician
was condemned.
My question is: According to the Torah, to what degree is a doctor
obligated to persuade a patient of the danger of his condition and
convince him to be treated?
1 Question
1 AnsweR A man used to often complain that he was not well and ask his wife to
call an ambulance. Every time he complained, there was really nothing
As we have discussed at length, one must force a patient to heal him- wrong. This happened repeatedly. One time he asked her to order an
self and we are obligated to do everything in our power to influence ambulance and she was sure it was another false alarm, as he looked
the patient to accept medical treatment. Even if the patient is not con- well to her. She did not call an ambulance because it is very expensive
cerned about his own life, we are obligated to be concerned for him. and a big bother. A while later, she saw that he had collapsed; she
All this applies if the physician’s medical knowledge dictates that immediately called an ambulance, but the physicians were unable to
there is a chance of a heart attack or the development of a heart attack. save him and could only declare him dead.
But if the patient feels well and according to what the physician sees
and understands he seems healthy as well, and the patient refuses to The woman would like to know whether she needs atonement for
do more testing as per the physician’s recommendation, then it seems not having called the ambulance when he asked her to do so. Perhaps,
the physician is not obligated to do more, since there is no visible since she knew that on many occasions he had complained when
danger to life. In this case it is sufficient to explain the concern to the there was no real need, she conducted herself properly? What should
patient and recommend that he go immediately by ambulance. she have done?
Similarly, if a physician knows of a patient’s propensity to complain
even though nothing is really wrong, and the patient calls for help on
1 SuMMaRy and Conclusion Shabbos or Yom Kippur, should the doctor desecrate Shabbos or Yom
If the patient says he feels well, and according to the physician he Kippur to answer the patient’s call?
looks well, the physician is not obligated to do more. We sent these questions to Dr. Menachem Breuer, Medical Di-
170 1 Medical-HalacHic Responsa of Rav ZilbeRstein Ordering an ambulance 2 171
