Q&A: The Physician Is Granted Permission to Heal, and “Guard Yourselves Carefully”
The Physician Is Granted Permission to Heal, and “Guard Yourselves Carefully”
Question
1. Why does the Talmud need a “permission” to heal? If there were no verse granting permission, would we really prohibit going to doctors?
2. “And guard yourselves very carefully.” What is the status of a derashah like this when it is not included among the 613 commandments by those who enumerate the commandments? If it is God’s will, why is it not a commandment? And if it is not a commandment, why am I obligated by it—is it just a recommendation?
Answer
1. I don’t think anyone imagines that without permission we would not heal. It is an exegetical flourish.
2. When you examine the meaning of the verses, you will see that they do not deal with protecting one’s life. Therefore the author of the Levush wrote:
“These expressions imply that a person must guard his life and not bring himself into danger. Even though the plain meaning of these verses does not deal with this, nevertheless the Sages grounded themselves on these verses and prohibited anything that brings a person into danger.”
Discussion on Answer
Several halakhic decisors wrote that the criterion is whatever a reasonable person is concerned about.
How far does the rule of “guard yourselves” extend? According to this, is it impossible to cross a road?