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even if he heard it second-hand rather than from its “owner.” The
Rabbenu Yonah in Sha’arei Teshuvah (Shaar 3 #225) explains that the
reason why we are prohibited from revealing a secret is not because of
the breach in trust, but rather because of the harm that doing so will
cause its owner. Therefore, it makes no difference whether he heard
the secret from its owner or from a second party.
Moreover, the Gemara in Tractate Baba Basra (151a) tells us that
the words of a dying man are “as if written and delivered.” This means
that if a sick patient on his deathbed asks that his assets be given to a
certain man, as soon as he expresses his desire, it is as though he has Section 8:
written a legal and binding document as such. This takanah was made Efforts to Provide tHe Best
so as not to cause mental anguish to the patient if he senses that his
words are not heard. The same applies in our case, where we must be Possible Treatment
concerned that the dying patient may sense that his wife was told of
his condition against his will, and this knowledge is liable to harm his
health, which should be dear to all of us. Therefore, one should not
reveal his secret.

1 SuMMaRy and Conclusion

One should fulfill the wish of the patient.



Causing a Father Anguish by Telling Him that his
Daughter is Sick

1 Question

I am treating a highly-emotional person for high blood pressure and
heart failure. His daughter is 35-years-old and is sick with a serious
illness. Her mother had the same disease and died at the age of 38.
The family is deliberating whether or not to tell him about his daugh-
ter’s illness, as they fear he may become sick from hearing the news. I
do not see how he will be able to fast on Yom Kippur and how he will

124 1 Medical-HalacHic Responsa of Rav ZilbeRstein Providing results of X-Ray 2 137