- Shabbat and Holidays
- General Questions
Shabbat Toranut for Radiologist
Question
I am a physician in Radiology. Part of the obligation I have is for the Radiologist on call to be physically present in the hospital on Shabbat for about 7 or 8 hours of work starting in the morning. The hospital is 10 miles from my house. As a radiologist, I may read many studies which are non life threatening before coming across one where my reading changes patient care and therefore fits in with concepts of Pikuach Nefesh.
Please advise on the following:
1) Driving to the hospital (there is no on call facility in this hospital; there is no where to stay nearby)(Also, staying away from home is a burden on my wife and two young children). Am I in violation by driving? I am aware of no alternative.
2) Dictating with a cassette recorder is the method of transcription of my reports. I must also write the results of the CT scans and ultrasounds on every case. It "feels" like a violation every time I dictate a negative report (i.e. the non life threatening cases). Am I in violation?
Answer
1. In a situation where you know in advance that you will be required for Pikuach Nefesh to drive to Shabbat, it is permitted to remain at home on Shabbat until the time that your Toranut begins.
2. You should minimize the activities in transcription that- in a non-medical situation- would be a Chilul Shabbat. Can the cassette recorder be left on all of Shabbat? Is it voice activated? Can you write your report on a computer that is left on all Shabbat and only print out the results on Motzei Shabbat? If you have no alternative but to write, you should use your left hand (unless you're left handed, in which case you should use your right hand). Recording your results even when they are negative is also connected to Pikuach Nefesh- it is not merely clerical. A negative result should assist in a proper diagnosis and treatment of whatever made the patient complain in the first place.

Peeling off dry skin and dandruff
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Sivan 15, 5782

Brushing Teeth on Shabbat
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | 5 Tishrei 5766

Cellular phone on Shabbat
Rabbi Jonathan Blass | 2 Adar I 5763
face wipes
Rabbi Daniel Kirsch | Tammuz 14, 5782

Rabbi Jonathan Blass
Rabbi of Neve Tzuf and Rosh Kollel "Ratzon Yehuda".

A Rabbi for Hashkafa
23 Tishrei 5763

Mikvah in Shidduchim
28 Tishrei 5763

Aliyah Latorah for a Non Cohen
14 Tishrei 5763

Remarrying within 24 months
5 Cheshvan 5763

Mezzuzah for Non Jew
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 18, 5773

rav Kook
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Shevat 7, 5782

Taking medicine on Yom Kipur
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | 28 Av 5766

On which day may one start wishing "Shabbat Shalom"?
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 9, 5780

Urgent School Project
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Elul 25, 5783
Which pray jew can pray for pass away friend non jew?
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Elul 21, 5783

chelev oblation
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Elul 25, 5783
