Shabbat · Orach Chaim 328

Medical Treatment on Shabbat

44 questions · 94 opinions

May one perform any healing activity on Shabbat for someone with a minor ailment who is walking around like a healthy person?

5 opinions across 2 eras

Minor Ailment (Meichoosh)

Is it a mitzvah to desecrate Shabbat for a life-threatening illness, and what is the status of one who hesitates or asks whether it is permitted?

2 opinions

Obligation

What constitutes a 'makkah shel chalal' (internal injury) for which Shabbat is desecrated?

5 opinions across 2 eras

Definition

Does an internal injury require expert assessment before desecrating Shabbat?

4 opinions across 2 eras

Assessment (Omed)

What assessment is required for an external (non-internal) injury before Shabbat may be desecrated?

1 opinions

Assessment

Which external injuries are treated as equivalent to internal injuries for Shabbat desecration?

1 opinions

Treated as Internal

For which specific conditions is Shabbat desecrated?

4 opinions across 2 eras

Specific Cases

May one let blood on Shabbat for someone overtaken by blood?

1 opinions

Bloodletting

For which eye conditions is Shabbat desecrated?

1 opinions

Eye Ailments

When doctors disagree about whether a Shabbat desecration is necessary for a patient, what is the halakha?

8 opinions across 2 eras

Conflicting Medical Opinions

Should treatment for a life-threatening illness on Shabbat be delayed to minimize Shabbat desecration?

2 opinions across 2 eras

Timing of Treatment

Who should perform the Shabbat desecration for a life-threatening illness — a Jew, non-Jew, woman, or child?

4 opinions across 2 eras

Who Performs the Desecration

Is one who hastens to desecrate Shabbat for a life-threatening situation praiseworthy even if he accomplishes something else in the process?

1 opinions

Incidental Benefit

For a dangerously ill patient who needs meat on Shabbat, should one slaughter an animal or feed him neveila (unslaughtered meat)?

3 opinions across 2 eras

Slaughter vs. Neveila

If ten people each brought food for a patient who needed one fig, are they all exempt from Shabbat violation?

2 opinions across 2 eras

Multiple Helpers

Should the amount of Shabbat desecration be minimized when treating a life-threatening illness (e.g., cutting figs from a stem)?

2 opinions

Minimizing Desecration

What is permitted for a non-life-threatening bedridden patient (choleh she'ein bo sakanah) on Shabbat?

5 opinions across 2 eras

Bedridden Patient

If someone let blood and got cold, may a fire be lit for him on Shabbat?

2 opinions

Post-Procedure Chill

Is a non-life-threatening bedridden patient permitted to eat food cooked by a non-Jew on Shabbat (bishulei akum)?

2 opinions

Non-Jewish Cooking

May wine be applied to the eye on Shabbat?

3 opinions

Wine Application

May one apply oil to a wound on Shabbat, and what are the restrictions on wound dressings?

2 opinions

Oil and Dressings

What are the rules for a bandage (retiyah) that fell off on Shabbat?

3 opinions

Bandage (Retiyah)

May one lance a boil on Shabbat?

1 opinions

Lancing a Boil

May one soak a bruised hand or foot in wine or vinegar on Shabbat?

2 opinions

Wine and Vinegar

May one who has tooth pain gargle with vinegar on Shabbat?

2 opinions

Vinegar Gargling

May a person in pain nurse from an animal on Shabbat?

1 opinions

Nursing from Animal

May a woman express breast milk on Shabbat?

3 opinions across 2 eras

Expressing Milk

May one chew mastic (gum-like substance) on Shabbat?

1 opinions

Chewing Mastic

May one eat foods and drinks that are normally consumed by healthy people if one's purpose is healing?

2 opinions

Normal Foods for Healing

May one induce vomiting on Shabbat?

1 opinions

Inducing Vomiting

May one bathe in therapeutic waters on Shabbat?

1 opinions

Therapeutic Waters

May one reset a dislocated bone on Shabbat?

1 opinions

Dislocation

What are the rules for removing a hangnail or loose nail on Shabbat?

1 opinions

Hangnail

May therapeutic exercises or massage that cause sweating be performed on Shabbat?

2 opinions

Exercise and Massage

What non-medicinal physical treatments are permitted on Shabbat (cupping, ear-setting, navel reset)?

1 opinions

Manual Procedures

May one place a cloth on a bleeding wound on Shabbat?

1 opinions

Bleeding Wound

May one insert a suppository on Shabbat?

2 opinions

Suppository and Enema

May one eat sweet resins or swallow a raw egg on Shabbat to improve one's voice?

1 opinions

Voice Improvement

May one place a warm cup on a stomach ache on Shabbat?

1 opinions

Warm Cup

May one who is intoxicated apply oil and salt to hands and feet on Shabbat?

2 opinions

Oil and Salt Application

May one place a vessel on the eye to cool it on Shabbat?

1 opinions

Cooling

May one recite incantations over snakes and scorpions on Shabbat?

1 opinions

Snakes and Scorpions

May one prepare and apply an eye salve (kilorin) before Shabbat for use on Shabbat?

1 opinions

Pre-Prepared Salve

May leaves be placed on a wound on Shabbat?

2 opinions

Leaves on Wound