Religion versus Medicine

[mick_hale]

This is a bit of a burning issue for me. I tend to take this very personally, especially within Judaism, since within Judaism, it should be crystal clear that the health, well-being, quality of life, and life of the patient takes precedence over any kind of halachic consideration whatsoever, with the exception of Murder, Adultery, and Idolatry (

Comments

Hysterectomy

[ext_365688]

You may be right or wrong about rabbis but the woman refusing the hysterectomy specifically made her decision without asking her rabbi. This is a case of evolutionary biology (pass on your genes at all costs) not religion (though a patriarchal society that only values women for baby-making doesn't exactly make the situation better.)

Re: Hysterectomy

[mick_hale]

No shit, I didn't know you could make LJ comments through your facebook login. This is good to know.

While the patriarchal society does play into it, the fact that the "rabbi" in question needed to contemplate for more than a second is telling.

[crystalyne]

The reason women don't have the mitzvah of pru urevu is because childbirth can put their life in danger. It's silly people go so far as to actually go against their own belief system.

[ehwhy]

We had a discussion this week about when we accept or ignore medical advise. Everything has to be handled on a case by case basis. Basically if the medical advise is from the Torah, then it would hold heavy weight. If it was developed later or proven wrong, it requires careful consideration and would not automatically be considered correct.

[vcfilks]

There is no medical advice in the Torah.

The Talmud, sure, but they got most of their medical knowledge from the Ancient Greeks, not from the Torah.

[ehwhy]

The topic was, what happens when Halacha contradicts science. In some cases we go with science and other times we decide that Halachic reality can be different than the real world. These principles could also be applied to medical cases.

[vcfilks]

How can halacha possibly contradict science? That doesn't make any sense. Halacha doesn't have an opinion on which medical treatments will work and which won't. It only has an opinion on which ones you are allowed and not allowed to undergo. The phrase "halachic reality" doesn't make any sense - since when does halacha try and determine a reality? Halacha only determines the appropriate action when you are confronted with a reality. Facts are facts; the Torah only tells you what to do with them.

[cogitationitis]

In the particular case you cite, she could just get her eggs harvested. Of course, it's probably too late now. (I'm not sure what the orthodox view is on assisted reproductive technologies.)

It's also silly, because if a doctor says you have a year to live if you keep that uterus, and you want to have children, you'd better be pregnant fast.

Of course, I've always been a big advocate of medicine.

[mick_hale]

I don't know what the orthodox view on surrogacy is, but my guess is that it's not positive. I should probably look into it, if for no reason than out of sheer interest.

[maidel]

I dont even know what to post in reply.. I get into arguements with ladies that tell me that they have a "heter" from their Rabbi to use birth control.. um sorry but if I feel that I am going to have a nervous breakdown from having kids every 11 months.. well...
If I am told by a doctor that I need to (G-d forbid) have a life saving procedure.. I might get a second opinion.. FROM A DOCTOR!!!
When I was pregnant with my son, Matanel, I was told by the resident on call that I would have to have surgery to remove one of my ovaries. When I called my dad (who is a Rabbi although I called him to cry cuz I was scared and he is my daddy!) he first told me to make sure I have my doctor recheck the ultrasound and that if she says that I need to have surgery then do what the doctors say because after all, my dad said, Doctors are Hashem's messengers..