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them or of assisting sinners? The Binyan Tzion responds that lifnei
iver is not a concern here because this is not a situation of “two sides of
a river” [i.e. they have are other books to work on]. He writes that the
prohibition of assisting a sinner to sin does not apply either, because
it only applies when extending assistance at the time when sin is being
done but if he hands in the manuscript on a weekday, before they
start doing anything forbidden – and neither is it absolutely certain
that his book will be printed on Shabbos – there is no prohibition of
assisting a sinner when he gives them the work.

This is also the conclusion reached by the Meishiv Davar (2, 32)
who was asked whether it is permitted to arrange a match for a cou-
ple that will not observe the laws of family purity. He responds that
since the matchmaker is not assisting them at the time of the sin and
neither is there any certainty that they will sin, the prohibition of
assisting a sinner to sin does not apply. He nevertheless concludes
that according to the opinions of Rashi and the Rambam, unless the
matchmaker derives his livelihood from this work he should not be
involved in arranging such matches3.

In view of the above, it appears that in our case the physician is
allowed to give over the correct medical information, namely, that
marital relations will not harm the patient. Since a matchmaker is
allowed to introduce a couple who will sin, because he is not assisting
them at the time of the sin and neither is it certain that they will sin,
all the more so is a physician, who is not bringing the sinners together,
allowed to tell the woman that marital relations will not harm her, for
he is not assisting her at the time of the sin, and neither is it certain
that the woman will continue to sin.4

3. On the topic of “putting a stumbling block before the blind,” see also our com-
ments in siman 272, citing the Maharsham and the Nchalas Eliyahu.

4. This differs from our conclusion in siman 272 because there the woman is deeply
entrenched in sin; it is the focus of her life and her source of livelihood.

266 1 Medical-Halachic Responsa of Rav Zilberstein