Calling for medical assistance on Shabbat
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Question
For Shabbat for all reasons
Topic: Medical treatment on Shabbat
Question: May one call Magen David Adom in an emergency?
Topic: Medical treatment on Shabbat
Question: May one call Magen David Adom in an emergency?
Answer
Shalom u’vracha
A fundamental principle stated throughout the Torah is that “pikuach nefesh (saving a life) overrides the entire Torah.”
Included in this is that all the laws of Shabbat are set aside in the face of danger to life.
Therefore, in any situation where there is a concern for possible death, one must desecrate Shabbat in order to save life as quickly as possible.
In an emergency where there is no danger to life, but only injury or the like, it is forbidden to transgress Shabbat labors that are prohibited by the Torah itself. However, it is permitted to transgress actions that are prohibited only rabbinically (derabbanan).
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