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273: MEDICAL ADVICE
REGARDING MARITAL
LIFE FOR A WOMAN
WHO DOES NOT
OBSERVE THE LAWS OF
PURITY

ɳ Question

This concerns the case of a woman who went into cardiac arrest. She
was brought to hospital and with Hashem’s help, they managed to
resuscitate her. After she recovered the patient asked me, “Will mar-
ital relations be harmful for me in light of what I experienced?” The
answer ought to be that from a medical viewpoint there need be no
concern whatsoever but I knew that this woman was not married and
that from time to time she lived with men. I was conflicted regarding
how to answer her.

If I answer her honestly from the medical point of view that mar-
ital relations will not injure her health, she will continue living in a
forbidden manner – even if I append to this the information that
Torah law forbids having marital relations without being married. I
will thereby be the cause of her having forbidden marital relations,
violating the commandment, “Do not put a stumbling block before a
blind man.” (Vaykira 19:14)

On the other hand, if I tell her that marital relations will harm her
she will probably consult another physician and discover that I lied
to her and will lose trust in me. This would also place all Torah ob-
servant physicians in a bad light. Moreover, she may sue me in court

Giving Advice that will Enable a Sinner to Continue Sinning 2 259