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was decreed on Chava, in the Garden of Eden: “Unto the woman he
said: I will greatly multiply your pain and your travail in pain will
you give birth to children…” (Bereishis 3:16), and a husband does not
always understand his wife and she is likely to be lonely and hurting.
Who can guarantee that she will be able to withstand it, especially if
she has to undergo surgery or difficult treatment? Who can assure SHOULD ONE TELL A
us that, with her weak faith, she will not do the same thing she did PATIENT THAT HE IS
before? It is probable that people would not want to get involved in a 73 STERILE?
problematic match like this one, whose outcome is uncertain. There-
fore, she is obligated to reveal the episode to her potential match.
And even if we accept that in truth this is not an “enormous defect
or blemish” that must be revealed (Chafetz Chaim, Hilchos Rechilus,
Principle 9, #3), nevertheless, since people are afraid to marry some- 1 Question Telling a patient that he is steRile
one who attempted suicide, it is considered a blemish which nullifies
the transaction. As explained in the Rambam (Hilchos Mechirah 15:5): A man was seriously injured in a road crash. He is paralyzed in his
if all agree that it is a defect which can nullify the deal, they can nullify lower extremities and has no control over his excretory functions. He
it. developed an inflammation in his urinary passages and in the sper-
matic tubes. He was diagnosed with blockages of other passages from
Therefore, my father-in-law advised that if the girl sees that a young the urinary bladder. The medical staff decided to perform surgery on
man is willing to marry her, she should reveal to him what she did and him, and the patient agreed. During surgery, the physicians discov-
say to him: May Hashem help us to live together in joy and love, so I ered that the spermatic tubes were irreversibly damaged. In order
will not feel alone. He will also rest His Divine Presence upon us, and to prevent repeated infections between the urinary bladder and the
I am sure that this act will not recur and you will have made a good scrotum, they were forced to tie the spermatic tubes, thereby making
deal, since there will be no reason for thoughts of suicide. the patient sterile, with no ability to sire children in the future.
We need to know that when husband and wife do not keep secrets The young patient is unaware of his new situation, and he will
from each other, their life together is happy and good. This is what certainly want to marry. Are the physicians obligated to reveal this to
the document of engagement states: “And they will not hide things him so he should not cause suffering to a woman who wants children,
from each other, but will live together with love and friendship and or should they remain silent in order not to upset him?
peace and unity.” Therefore, if the woman conducts herself properly,
according to Torah law, and tells him the truth, then the husband will Signed: Expert in physical therapy and rehabilitation
know what lies before him and he will help and strengthen her so she
will be healed. 1 AnsweR
One can add that the transgression of deception can also be done
silently, if one’s actions deceive another. Proof for this is in Tractate Before we answer this question, let us discuss a similar case.
Chullin (94a), and also in the Rambam (Hilchos Mechirah 18:4), who A compassionate nurse was treated in the gynecology department
writes that “It is permissible for a storekeeper to give roasted nuts to following a serious hemorrhage. At the end of the treatment, the

32 1 Medical-HalacHic Responsa of Rav ZilbeRstein Telling a patient that he is sterile 2 37