Cohen's Presence Next to His Wife Before Surgery
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Question
A Cohen whose wife needs to undergo surgery in the hospital, can he stay by her side before and after the surgery?
Answer
Shalom and blessings
A Cohen is forbidden to stay in a hospital where there are deceased, except in cases of life-threatening situations.
Calming a patient who is in danger is considered as pikuach nefesh (saving a life).
Therefore, generally, when entering a planned surgery, the wife is not considered as a patient in danger before the surgery. However, immediately after the surgery, the situation is usually considered as life-threatening. Therefore, if there is no close person to stay with her, it is permitted for her husband to be with her.