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cians say that if she fasts she will relapse into a state of imbecility, it is
straightforward that she may eat on Yom Kippur because imbecility
constitutes danger. Even though the illness [itself ] will not kill her,
since owing to the illness she is liable to kill herself or others, it is
considered piku’ach nefesh.” He writes further (ibid.):“A woman who
bore two children and became deranged after each birth and [since
she had experienced two postpartum psychoses] the physicians for-
bade her to become pregnant, is allowed to use an absorbent tampon
during marital relations [as a contraceptive measure] because imbe-
cility endangers not only her but also her young children. Even when
the imbecility doesn’t manifest in doing anything bad, the situation
is liable to change chas ve’shalom [Heaven forbid], and she may de-
velop harmful intentions towards herself or her children and [given
the nature of a mother’s interaction with her young children] it is
impossible to arrange for protection to prevent this”.1

In light of all this, were the aforementioned young woman to be
considered a shotah it would be permitted to kill the fetus in order
to save her life, because in this situation pregnancy aggravates her
condition, thus constituting piku’ach nefesh which sets aside the pro-
hibition of killing a fetus.

In our case though, it is questionable whether the young woman
can be considered a shotah on account of her attempted suicide, be-
cause everything she says has been logical and coherent and she shows
none of the signs [typical] of an imbecile that are cited by Chazal in
maseches Chagigah. (3b)2 Her suicide attempt may not be sufficient
justification for labeling her a shotah and further study is required.3

This is particularly questionable in our case where the psychiatrist
also concluded that a beis din would consider the young woman re-
sponsible for her actions, and had she stolen she would be penalized.

1. See our discussion of this topic earlier, siman 114.

2. For the parameters of when a patient is considered a shotah see earlier, simanim
204-6.

3. See earlier, siman 72, regarding whether a boy should be informed of a youthful
suicide attempt on the part of the girl to whom he is engaged.

Abortion to Prevent Suicide 2 353