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The husband will unknowingly violate a prohibition all the years that
he lives with his unfaithful wife, and the sins add up and are many.
Therefore we need not consider kevod habriyos in this case.
Likewise in our case, since the matter is likely to affect the future,
one would be obligated to tell the principal’s supervisors. A PSYCHIATRIC PATIENT
On the other hand, our case differs somewhat from the case pre- CONFESSES HIS SINS;
sented to the Noda Biyehudah. In our case, we are not dealing with a PUBLICIZNG THEM IS
proven transgression. It is not certain that the principal will continue 67 LIKELY TO HARM HIS
his abusive acts, especially if the beis din warns him that his livelihood REHABILITATION
and position are at stake. Therefore, we return to the first point noted
by the Noda Biyehudah, and perhaps due to kevod habriyos, one should
do nothing. However, if we see the principal continuing his evil ways,
he is like a pit found in a public domain and must be stopped without
any concern for his own honor or his family’s. 1
Regarding the third question: Is the physician obligated to expose Question
the principal if doing so will cause him personal harm? The physician A person suffering from mental disorders came to request psychiatric
is not obligated to suffer because of his exposure and a person is not therapy and medications. He told the physician treating him that he
obligated to expend money in order to fulfill the mitzvah of rebuke, as abuses his young female relatives. The physician knows the family.
explained in the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Deah #336:48). However, he These acts may have very serious consequences, even danger to life, if
is obligated to send an anonymous letter, so that he should not suffer the victims wake up in the middle of his abusive acts. The patient has
personally from this. started treatment and the physician feels there is a chance of rehabil-
itating him, but occasionally he reverts to his abusive acts, despite the
1 SuMMaRy and Conclusions treatment.
If the physician tells the parents of the abused children, he will
1. One should summon the principal to appear before a beis din, lose the patient’s trust and effectively close off the possibility of his
who will clarify whether the allegations are true or not. rehabilitation, the responsibility for which rests completely on the
physician, who is the sole person involved in treating the patient.
2. If it appears that the principal will continue his lewd acts, one
should inform on him to his supervisors without any concern The physician wants to know the Torah view of this. Does he have
for his family. to be concerned about the welfare of the girls, and rescue them from
the possible trauma and the mental damage they are likely to develop
3. The physician should go about this in a way that will not cause if they wake up, Heaven forbid, or should he focus on the rehabilita-
him any personal harm. tion process of only his own patient since ultimately, if the treatment
is successful, much future damage will be prevented?
Participation of parents in the psychological treatment of their In order to answer this question, let us begin with two additional
children questions:
398 1 Medical-HalacHic Responsa of Rav ZilbeRstein Publicizing the sins of a psychiatric patient 2 20818_efi-ab - 20818_efi-ab | 13 - A | 18-08-20 | 13:29:04 | SR:-- | Cyan 20818_efi-ab - 20818_efi-ab | 13 - A | 18-08-20 | 13:29:04 | SR:-- | Magenta 20818_efi-ab - 20818_efi
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