Abstaining from Treating the Terminally Ill

Question:

Because of a family situation, I would like to ask the rabbi if he is aware of a source for this: A terminally ill patient (shechiv mera) requests that they turn down a sound that is disturbing him, however it becomes clear that this sound is keeping him alive. The question is what should one do? And the answer is that despite the fact that the sound is keeping him alive for longer, one should respect his wishes and allow him to die in peace. This is the topic or situation as far as I remember, and if the rabbi is aware of or knows if I made this discussion up… I would love to know. I searched in the responsa project but I didn’t find anything. Thanks. The question and answer were first published on the “Moreshet” website.

Answer:

Hello,

Of course.

See Rema in the Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 339:1.

All the best,

Yuval Cherlow

Rabbi Yuval Cherlow,

Head of the Tzohar Ethics Center

For Additional Reading:

Managing One’s Final Day – Halachic and Ethical Counseling for a Patient and Their Family
Is It Permissible to Withhold Treatment of a Terminal Patient So They Do Not Suffer?
Should We Encourage a Critical Patient to Say the Vidui Confessional?
Our Mother Requests That We Don’t Insert a Nasogastric Tube. Should We Consent?