Position Paper: “How Far Does Honoring One’s Parents Go?”: The Mitzvah of Honoring One’s Parents vs. Man’s Obligations to Himself
1. Introduction The mitzvah of honoring one’s father and mother of the most ubiquitous mitzvot which primarily deals with providing for the physical needs of the parents: “[He should] feed them and provide them with drink, dress them and cover them up, bring them in and out [of the house]” (Kiddushin 31b). However, the limitations […]
Position Paper: The Fundamentals of the Mitzvah of Honoring One’s Parents
1. Introduction Honoring one’s parents is a great and fundamentally important mitzvah likened to the mitzvah of honoring God. In this manner does the Rambam introduces the halachot of honoring one’s parents: “Honoring one’s father and mother is a positive commandment of great importance, as is fearing one’s father and mother. The Torah equates the […]
Position Paper: Weighing Institutional Factors in the Field of Medical Ethics – Autopsy and Dissection as a Case Study
Is it permissible to dissect a cadaver in order to educate the next generation of doctors? May one consider institutional factors in order to make decisions regarding medical ethics?
Position Paper: Allocating Resources Towards Life-Saving Procedures in a State of Emergency – In the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic
How should limited resources be divided between patients? Is a life-prolonging procedure for two people preferential to a life-saving procedure of one? Can one morally and halachically prioritize treatment to a young person over an old one?
Position Paper – Insemination with Sperm of the Deceased
Technological advancements lead to complex ethical questions. There are a number of issues arising from the innovation allowing for use of the sperm of a deceased person: may one use the sperm of a deceased person for fertilization after their death? Is one allowed to extract sperm from the body of the deceased for the purpose of fertilization?
Position Paper – Telling the Truth to a Patient Regarding Their Medical Condition
1. Introduction When a patient is suffering from a terminal illness, the physicians oftentimes are confronted with the issue of how much the person should know about their condition and if it is beneficial to withhold information from them. This issue has two main facets: 1) the medical evaluation – will the patient’s awareness improve […]
Position Paper – Treating a Patient with No Chance of Recovery
1. Introduction The question of whether there is a reason to continue treatment of a person with an untreatable illness arises in several medical conditions: terminally ill patients sometimes express their wishes not to continue treatment – in the moment or as an advance directive – when there is no chance of recovery. In many […]
Position Paper: The Impact of Suffering on Medical and Halachic Considerations
1. Introduction Oftentimes, illness and suffering are fundamentally intertwined. But if we are able to isolate these two components, even on just a theoretical level, the question arises: what is the place of suffering in medical and halachic considerations? We will examine two sides of this problem. First, we will examine whether there is a […]
Chanukah Guidelines for a Person with Dementia and their Family
Chanukah brings with it light for the household and for the family – candle lighting, familiar customs, and uplifting tunes. When dealing with a person with dementia it can have almost the opposite effects. On the one hand, they are faced with a change in daily routine which can aggravate and confuse them. On the other hand, the experience awakens joyous memories together with the family. This matter brings up numerous discussions surrounding halacha, mental health, and ethics. We will address these in the guidelines below.
Position Paper: Family Involvement in Medical Decision Making
1. Introduction Oftentimes we will be confronted with situations that challenge what the status of the family is in medical decision making, especially when the patient is unconscious or is not fit to make decisions independently. It is obvious that in cases where the patient is conscious and of sound mind, we are obligated to […]
