Birth of a Kohen in a Hospital with Impurity
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Question
Is it permissible for the wife of a Kohen to give birth in any hospital, or is it preferable to choose a hospital without impurity?
Answer
Hello, birth is considered pikuach nefesh (saving a life), and if the woman giving birth prefers a certain hospital because she believes there is better medical care there, or she feels more at ease there, she should give birth in that hospital in any case. If she has no considerations of better medical care or feels more at ease there, it depends on whether she knows for sure she is going to give birth to a male child. In such a case, she should prefer a hospital where there is no impurity of Kohanim. However, if she does not know the gender of the fetus, she is permitted to give birth in any hospital that is convenient for her. Nevertheless, if her husband accompanies her to the hospital, it is preferable to choose a hospital where there is no concern of impurity. Also, if she wants her husband or sons to visit her later, she should take into account that they will not be able to do so in a hospital where there is impurity of Kohanim.