Page 366 - EFI-RAV ZILBERSTIN_VOL 8.EFI-RAV ZILBERSTIN_VOL 8.1A

Pg: 366 - 12-Back 21-10-31

281: DOES A YOUNG
WOMAN’S SUICIDE
THREAT JUSTIFY
PERFORMING AN
ABORTION?

ɳ Question

A young woman was found lying unconscious on a Netanyah street
and she was taken to Laniado Hospital in Kiryat Sanz. Upon exam-
ination it was discovered that she had swallowed a large number of
sleeping pills, intending suicide. After pumping her stomach the phy-
sicians managed to revive her. When asked what had led her to take
this step, she said that she had tried to end to her life because she had
become pregnant and was unmarried. When she sought an abortion,
the physician refused to perform it unless she paid a high fee that was
beyond her means. In her despair she had therefore decided to end
her life. If they would not perform an abortion now, she would again
attempt to end her life, this time ensuring that no one could save her.

A specialist in mental disorders who talked to her states as follows:
I examined the patient and gained the impression of a psychopathic
personality thay can put on an outward show of normalcy which does
not reflect her inner state. She is in a state of imbalance owing to
her being pregnant and unmarried, accompanied by depression along
with seriously suicidal thoughts. Since she has already made one se-
rious attempt at suicide by swallowing pills, medicinal therapy is not
an option at this stage, though her mental state could be resolved by
performing an artificial abortion.

350 1 Medical-Halachic Responsa of Rav Zilberstein