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Medicine on Shabbat: Difference between revisions
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==Taking Medicine== | ==Taking Medicine== | ||
===If one has a minor condition (Meychush BeAlma)=== | ===If one has a minor condition (Meychush BeAlma)=== | ||
# If someone has a minor condition which hurts such as a tooth ache, throat ache, head ache, cold, and cough it is forbidden to take any medicine such as pills or drops. However, someone who is in a lot of pain and because of it he is in bed or his body is weakened such as a migraine it permitted to take a medicine. <Ref>Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 34:1,3 and Rav Mordechai Eliyahu's comment on Kitzur | # If someone has a minor condition which hurts such as a tooth ache, throat ache, head ache, cold, and cough it is forbidden to take any medicine such as pills or drops. However, someone who is in a lot of pain and because of it he is in bed or his body is weakened such as a migraine it permitted to take a medicine. <Ref>Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 34:1,3 and Rav Mordechai Eliyahu's comment on Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 91:1. The Weekly Halachah Discussion (Rabbi Doniel Neustadt) writes that although contemporary poskim debate whether nowadays we can be more lenient with taking medication on [[Shabbat]] because of the change in technique, the general consensus is to reject this argument. See Minchas [[Shabbat]] 91:9; Ketzos ha-Shulchan 134:7; Chelkas Yaakov 4:41; and Tzitz Eliezer 8:15:15. See also [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/739326/Rabbi_Aryeh_Lebowitz/Ten_Minute_Halacha_-_Medicine_on_Shabbat_Part_I Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz on YUTorah.org]. The Yalkut Yosef 328:52 writes that a choleh shein bo skana (sick in bed) can take pills. He adds that in general someone who is in a lot of pain but isn't choleh shein bo sakana may not take the pills and only makes two exceptions, for someone who has a big headache and someone who has a big stomach ache.</ref> | ||
# Some allow someone who is accustomed to take pain killers for a head ache or tooth ache and if he doesn't take it will be in pain to take pain killers on [[Shabbat]].<ref> In Yalkut Yosef ([[Shabbat]] v. 4, pp. 408-9) he writes that some say that one may take pain killers on [[Shabbat]] because they don't cure but only remove pain, and some disagree. He concludes that one should only be lenient if a person is accustomed to taking such pain killers and if one doesn't take them one will be in pain. On page 143 in discussing the same leniency he specifically mentions pills that contain paracetamol which is the active ingredient in Tylenol, a pain killer.</ref> | # Some allow someone who is accustomed to take pain killers for a head ache or tooth ache and if he doesn't take it will be in pain to take pain killers on [[Shabbat]].<ref> In Yalkut Yosef ([[Shabbat]] v. 4, pp. 408-9) he writes that some say that one may take pain killers on [[Shabbat]] because they don't cure but only remove pain, and some disagree. He concludes that one should only be lenient if a person is accustomed to taking such pain killers and if one doesn't take them one will be in pain. On page 143 in discussing the same leniency he specifically mentions pills that contain paracetamol which is the active ingredient in Tylenol, a pain killer.</ref> | ||
===If one has a sickness (Choleh Shein Bo Sakana)=== | ===If one has a sickness (Choleh Shein Bo Sakana)=== | ||
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===If one is critically ill (Choleh Sheyesh Bo Sakana)=== | ===If one is critically ill (Choleh Sheyesh Bo Sakana)=== | ||
# It is permitted and a mitzvah to violate Shabbat in order to safe a Jewish life. <ref> | # It is permitted and a mitzvah to violate Shabbat in order to safe a Jewish life. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 328:2</ref>Even if there is only a doubt if the patient is critically ill<ref>Shulchan Aruch 328:6, Mishna Brurah 328:17, 328:26</ref> or if there is a doubt if the procedure will safe the patient's life<ref>Mishna Brurah 328:37</ref>, nonetheless, it is a mitzvah to violate Shabbat in order to try to save a Jewish life. | ||
===Infants=== | ===Infants=== | ||
# Healthy infants and babies until the age of three (and according to some poskim even older children till the age of six or nine) are also halachically classified as “patients not dangerously ill.” <Ref> Chazon Ish, O.C. 59:3, Rav S.Z. Auerbach in Nishmas Avraham 328:54, and Rav Y.S. Elyashiv in Eis Laledes, pg. 57, quote the age of 2-3. Tzitz Eliezer 8:15-12 quotes ages of 6. Minchas Yitzchak 1:78 quotes age of 9. </ref> (In the final analysis, it all depends on the strength and maturity of the child.) <ref>The Weekly Halachah Discussion (Rabbi Doniel Neustadt)</ref> Therefore, they are permitted to take all forms of medicine, provided, of course, that no Biblical prohibitions are transgressed. <ref> Rama, O.C. 328:17. Note, however, that not all of a baby’s needs are exempt from the prohibition against medication; see, for instance, Mishna Brurah 328:131. See Tehillah l’David 328:24 and Minchas Yitzchak 4:124 who deal with this difficulty </ref> | # Healthy infants and babies until the age of three (and according to some poskim even older children till the age of six or nine) are also halachically classified as “patients not dangerously ill.” <Ref> Chazon Ish, O.C. 59:3, Rav S.Z. Auerbach in Nishmas Avraham 328:54, and Rav Y.S. Elyashiv in Eis Laledes, pg. 57, quote the age of 2-3. Tzitz Eliezer 8:15-12 quotes ages of 6. Minchas Yitzchak 1:78 quotes age of 9. </ref> (In the final analysis, it all depends on the strength and maturity of the child.) <ref>The Weekly Halachah Discussion (Rabbi Doniel Neustadt)</ref> Therefore, they are permitted to take all forms of medicine, provided, of course, that no Biblical prohibitions are transgressed. <ref> Rama, O.C. 328:17. Note, however, that not all of a baby’s needs are exempt from the prohibition against medication; see, for instance, Mishna Brurah 328:131. See Tehillah l’David 328:24 and Minchas Yitzchak 4:124 who deal with this difficulty </ref> | ||
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===Cleaning a wound=== | ===Cleaning a wound=== | ||
# It is permitted to clean and bandage a wound or to pour hydrogen peroxide over it. <ref>The Weekly Halachah Discussion (Rabbi Doniel Neustadt)based on | # It is permitted to clean and bandage a wound or to pour hydrogen peroxide over it. <ref>The Weekly Halachah Discussion (Rabbi Doniel Neustadt)based on Shulchan Aruch 328:23</ref> | ||
===Braces=== | ===Braces=== | ||
# Braces may be worn on [[Shabbat]] because there is no medicine for aligning teeth properly. <ref>The Weekly Halachah Discussion (Rabbi Doniel Neustadt)writes that it is permissible to wear braces on [[Shabbat]] because the goal of the treatment or procedure can only be achieved without the use of medicine. </ref> | # Braces may be worn on [[Shabbat]] because there is no medicine for aligning teeth properly. <ref>The Weekly Halachah Discussion (Rabbi Doniel Neustadt)writes that it is permissible to wear braces on [[Shabbat]] because the goal of the treatment or procedure can only be achieved without the use of medicine. </ref> | ||
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==Specific conditions== | ==Specific conditions== | ||
===Abscess=== | ===Abscess=== | ||
# An abscess may be squeezed to relieve pressure from pus, even if some blood is secreted in the process. <Ref> The Weekly Halachah Discussion (Rabbi Doniel Neustadt)quoting | # An abscess may be squeezed to relieve pressure from pus, even if some blood is secreted in the process. <Ref> The Weekly Halachah Discussion (Rabbi Doniel Neustadt)quoting Shulchan Aruch O.C. 328:28 and Mishna Brurah 328:89 </ref> | ||
===Acne=== | ===Acne=== | ||
# All medication for acne may not be taken on [[Shabbat]]. <ref>The Weekly Halachah Discussion (Rabbi Doniel Neustadt)</ref> | # All medication for acne may not be taken on [[Shabbat]]. <ref>The Weekly Halachah Discussion (Rabbi Doniel Neustadt)</ref> | ||
