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(the antiretroviral drug AZT), the patient wants to continue his life
of abandon as long as he is able.

Are we supposed to provide him with this drug, thereby possibly
increasing the chances of his infecting others during his “extended”
life? Or should we allow nature to take its course and withhold the
drug from him?

Prof. Yirmiyahu Branover

ɳ Response

This patient’s mind, as well as his body, needs to heal and his life
should be extended so that should manage to repent. We find simi-
larly in the Biur Halachah (329:4 s.v. ela) that Shabbos is desecrated
to extend the life of a patient upon whom a building has collapsed,
crushing his head. Even though he has only a short time to live we
desecrate Shabbos for him so “that during that short time [that he
will live] he can repent in his heart and confess his sins.” The patient’s
intention to continue sinning is no reason to deny him help because it
is possible that despite what he says he will repent.

As for those who sin together with him, they bring their troubles
on themselves with their very own hands and they are aware of the
risk they are taking. They may be among those of whom it is said,
“Stuff the evildoer and let him die” – as is evident in Bava Kama
(69a), we do not have to take protective measures to prevent those
who want to sin from sinning.

If the medication is paid for with public money, the question of
whether or not to provide him with it is a matter for further study.
However, if he is a member of one of the Kupot Cholim and pays for
his treatments and medications it should not be withheld from him.

However, if the patient seduces young children to sin with him
he is a rodef because he is endangering their lives and it is forbidden
to help him by providing medications unless he is incarcerated in a
guarded place.

Refusing to Treat a Sinner 2 257