Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah Siman 336

Siman 336

Presented here for study, not as a practical ruling. The Shulchan Aruch rules by Sephardi custom, the Rema's glosses by Ashkenazi custom, and the Kitzur follows Ashkenazi custom. For a practical question, ask your rabbi.

א נָתְנָה הַתּוֹרָה רְשׁוּת לָרוֹפֵא לְרַפְּאוֹת. וּמִצְוָה הִיא. וּבִכְלַל פִּקּוּחַ נֶפֶשׁ הוּא. וְאִם מוֹנֵעַ עַצְמוֹ, הֲרֵי זֶה שׁוֹפֵךְ דָּמִים, וַאֲפִלּוּ יֵשׁ לוֹ מִי שֶׁיְּרַפְּאֶנּוּ, שֶׁלֹּא מִן הַכֹּל אָדָם זוֹכֶה לִהִתְרַפְּאוֹת. וּמִיהוּ לֹא יִתְעַסֵק בִּרְפוּאָה אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הוּא בָּקִי, וְלֹא יְהֵא שָׁם גָּדוֹל מִמֶּנּוּ, שֶׁאִם לֹא כֵן, הֲרֵי זֶה שׁוֹפֵךְ דָּמִים. וְאִם רִפֵּא שֶׁלֹּא בִּרְשׁוּת בֵּית דִּין, חַיָּב בְּתַשְׁלוּמִין, אֲפִלּוּ אִם הוּא בָּקִי. וְאִם רִפֵּא בִּרְשׁוּת בֵּית דִּין, וְטָעָה וְהִזִּיק, פָּטוּר מִדִּינֵי אָדָם וְחַיָּב בְּדִינֵי שָׁמַיִם. וְאִם הֵמִית, וְנוֹדַע לוֹ שֶׁשָּׁגַג, גּוֹלֶה עַל יָדוֹ.
1 The Torah has granted the physician permission to heal, and it is a religious duty which comes under the rule of saving an endangered life. If he withholds [treatment] he is regarded as one who sheds blood; and even if there is someone else who can heal him; for not from every one does one merit to be healed. Nevertheless, on should not occupy himself with medical treatment unless he is an expert and there is none other greater than he; for if not so, he is regarded as one who sheds blood. If one administered medical treatment without the permission of the Jewish Court, he is subject to payment of indemnities, even if he is an expert; and if he administered medical treatment, having the permission of the Jewish Court, and erred, causing [thereby] injury [to the patient], he is exempt by the laws of man and is held responsible by the laws of Heaven. If he caused death and it became known to him that he acted inadvertently, he is banished on account of him.
ב הָרוֹפֵא, אָסוּר לִטֹּל שְׂכַר הַחָכְמָה וְלִמּוּד, אֲבָל שְׂכַר הַטֹּרַח וְהַבַּטָּלָה, מֻתָּר.
2 The physician is forbidden to take payment for his wisdom and learning but he may receive payment for his trouble and lost time.
ג מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ סַמָּנִים, וַחֲבֵרוֹ חוֹלֶה וְצָרִיךְ לָהֶם, אָסוּר לוֹ לְהַעֲלוֹת בִּדְמֵיהֶם יוֹתֵר מִן הָרָאוּי. וְלֹא עוֹד, אֶלָּא אֲפִלּוּ פָּסְקוּ לוֹ בִּדְמֵיהֶם הַרְבֵּה, מִפְּנֵי צֹרֶךְ הַשָּׁעָה שֶׁלֹּא מָצְאוּ סַמָּנִין אֶלָּא בְּיָדוֹ, אֵין לוֹ אֶלָּא דְּמֵיהֶן. אֲבָל אִם הִתְנָה בִּשְׂכַר הָרוֹפֵא הַרְבֵּה, חַיָּב לִתֵּן לוֹ, שֶׁחָכְמָתוֹ מָכַר לוֹ וְאֵין לוֹ דָּמִים. הַגָּה: וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁיֵּשׁ מִצְוָה עָלָיו לְרַפְּאוֹתוֹ; שֶׁכָּל מִצְוֹת עֲשֵׂה דְּרַמְיָא אַכֻּלֵּי עָלְמָא, אִם נִזְדַּמְּנָה לְאֶחָד וְלֹא רָצָה לְקַיְּמָהּ אֶלָּא בְּמָמוֹן, אֵין מוֹצִיאִין הַמָּמוֹן מִיָּדוֹ, וְלֹא מַפְקִיעִין מִיָּדוֹ חִיּוּב שֶׁלָּהֶן (טוּר).
3 One who has medical ingredients and his neighbour is sick and requires them, is forbidden to raise the price above the standard value. Furthermore, even if they agreed to pay him an excessive amount, due to the need of the hour, — for they found that only he possessed the medical ingredients, — he is entitled only to the [standard] price. However, if one stipulated an excessive sum as payment to the physician, he is obligated to give it to him, for he sold him his learning which cannot be valued in [terms of] money. Rema: Although he is required on account of the religious duty to heal him, — for every positive command which rests upon every person [ to fulfil ], — [ yet ] if it chances to come to one's hand and he agrees to execute it only for money, — [ the law is that ] we do not claim the money from him, nor do we make him cancel his obligation.
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