Negiah

From Halachipedia
  1. It is forbidden to affectionately touch individuals of the opposite gender.[1]
  2. If the touching is done in a professional context, then it could be permitted.[2]
  3. Ideally, one should try to see a doctor of the same gender.[3] However, it is permitted to see a doctor of the opposite gender if there is no other option.[4]

Sources

  1. ↑ Rambam Issurei Biah 21:1
  2. ↑ Gemara Ta’anit 21b brings a story of Abba Umna who was a doctor and is praised for putting the men and women in separate areas and for having a special garment that covered the women when he was treating them. This Gemara implies that it is unique and praiseworthy that Abbau Umna did this, which shows that the ordinary person is not required to do these things. This can be a source for male doctors being permitted to touch female patients while treating them. Gemara Bava Metziah 91a quotes Rav Yehuda who says that a professional who causes two animals to mate directly is not doing anything wrong because he is involved in his professional job. There is no problem of Pritzus because he is busy with his professional job, so he will not have any inappropriate urges. Shach Yoreh Deah 195:20 says that according to the Rambam, the only issur of negiah is when the negiah is with hana’a, or pleasure, but in medical care there is no pleasure involved so it would be muttar to treat a patient of the opposite gender.
  3. ↑ Nishmas Avraham Yoreh Deah 195
  4. ↑ Rav Moshe Feinstein, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (as quoted by Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner)
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