Sunday, March 8, 2009

Psychological problems - pikuach nefesh?


I need some help.

I am looking for clearly stated positions that causing psychological problems in others i.e., abuse - is consider life threatening?

Or put another way - what sources say that preventing a person from being abused or rescuing him from abuse - is pikuach nefesh

The above is in reference not only to sexual abuse but physical abuse - and even poor parenting, teaching or psychotherapy.

6 comments :

  1. The resources listed on this site might be helpful:

    http://jsafe.org/resources.htm

    Might be worthwhile contacting the author R'Mark Dratch for further information.

    ReplyDelete
  2. R' Mark Dratch seems to assume it rather than proof it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. How about "Handbook of Psychotherapy and Jewish Ethics", by Moshe Spero, published by Feldheim. It's out of print, but I believe he discusses such issues, and has extensive mareh mekomos.

    http://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Psychotherapy-Jewish-Ethics-Perspectives/dp/0873064062/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236536714&sr=1-5

    ReplyDelete
  4. http://media.libsyn.com/media/torah/halacha_refua-ioron-5769-09.mp3

    check out this shiur - while it is referring to social workers violating shabbat for mental pikuach nefesh,, it may be somewhat relevant to your question.
    KT
    Joel Rich

    ReplyDelete
  5. check out this shiur - while it is referring to social workers violating shabbat for mental pikuach nefesh,, it may be somewhat relevant to your question.
    KT
    Joel Rich
    ====================
    The shiur was very good - thanks

    ReplyDelete
  6. Give R' D. Feinstein a call. I heard him say, a number of times, that technically one is allowed to be michallel shabos to prevent someone from 'snapping', but in actuality, it is difficult to ascertain when that exact moment will be

    Possible, albeit tentatives, arguments

    Der kop iz oych ahn eyver- hatzalas eyver

    A person that suffered a mental breakdown is in a constant state of sakanah, he can't take care of himself and is possibly very self destructive, maybe suicidal

    muthav to be michallel one shabbos, etc,

    ReplyDelete

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