A Kohen Remaining Beside His Wife Before and After Surgery

Question

 If a Kohen’s wife needs to undergo surgery, may he remain with her in the hospital before and after the operation? 

Answer

Shalom uVracha,

A Kohen is not permitted to remain in a hospital where there are deceased, except in a case of pikuach nefesh.

Calming a patient who is in danger is considered pikuach nefesh.

Therefore, under normal circumstances, when a woman is entering a scheduled surgery, she is not considered a choleh sheyesh bo sakana before the operation. However, immediately after the surgery, the situation is generally regarded as choleh sheyesh bo sakana.

Accordingly, if there is no close relative who can stay with her, it is permitted for her husband to remain with her.

Comments

Have an additional question on this topic or need clarification? Leave your comment below. (Please note that the comment will not be published but will be sent directly to the answering Rabbi for review and a private response)

Please sign up or log in to submit your comment

Become our patrners in supporting and spreading the Torah
Help us answer more questions faster and better
Join the mission
More questions in this category
Putting a stumbling block before a blind person
Positive and Negative Commandments
Putting a stumbling block before a blind person