2 years ago

The Rebbe’s Opinion On: May a Jewish Doctor Prescribe Birth Control?

Chabadinfo in collaboration with Beis Moshiach Magazine presents: The Rebbe’s Opinion On, a new series featuring the Rebbe’s opinion and directive on various subjects • This week: The Rebbe’s responce to a Jewish physician about if a Jewish doctor can prescribe them birth control pills • Full Article

The Side Effects

Excerpt from a letter to a Jewish physician, dated 20 Shevat, 5743:

…With regard to the matter of prescribing birth control and like, no doubt you know the recent furor which has come to light (despite efforts to cover up or minimize) about the side effects of various birth control drugs and other methods. Aside from discernible physical side effects, little has been said about the psychological effect, which is in any case very difficult to assess properly, inasmuch as there are other contributing factors in most cases.

However, as a matter of general approach, it is understandable, even from the scientific viewpoint, that interference with the natural order of things is not recommendable except when there are compelling health reasons to do so.

One has also to take into consideration that the so-called “Family Planning,” deals with people who are in the age of child bearing and while they may consider the matter of birth control today, they may well have a change of heart and mind later on and find that they have missed their opportunity to have more children. Obviously this would have a serious psychological effect.

Needless to say, what medical science has found out about the side effects of birth control drugs is primarily confined to relatively short term effects.

What long term effects might be cannot be foreseen at this time.

So much for the general principle of it, even aside from the Torah viewpoint. Of course, where there is a particular individual case, it is necessary to consult with a practicing Rov)

The destruction of a fetus is strictly prohibited

Everyone should realize that there is a Creator and Master of the world Who has prescribed a definite order by which the human race should live. The destruction of a fetus is strictly prohibited except, as mentioned, in extraordinary cases.

There is really no difference in this matter between Jewish or non-Jewish patients. First of all, you surely know that Jewish Law makes it incumbent upon Jews to use their influence with non-Jews to help promote the so-called Seven Laws that have been given to the children of Noah, with all their ramifications. These laws include also the prohibition of abortion. Indeed, for some reason, the Torah declared that destruction of a fetus by a non-Jew is even more serious than by a Jew — not that abortion can be treated lightly by Jews, as outlined above.

It is well known that I do not, nor is it one of my functions, to pasken shaalos, especially as there is the Union of Orthodox Rabbis and similar Rabbinic bodies who have come out clearly and emphatically against family planning and the like.

Abortion a thing of justice?!

I have gone out of my way to express my views on the matter in this letter only because abortion has become now not only widely acceptable but, on the contrary, it is claimed to be a thing of justice, women’s independence, etc. etc., although it makes no sense to say that a woman should have a right to kill an unborn child or even a fetus in order to assert her independence. Nevertheless, so great is the confusion and darkness of the present day and age, that even some persons of higher education and supposedly knowledgeable in the fields of ethics and philosophy and the like, have also come out in support of this evil.

Abortion Isn’t A Women’s Personal Affair

Finally, I would like to make reference to a saying of our Sages which, at first glance seems incomprehensible, but it is nevertheless part of our Torah, Toras Chaim, our true guide in life. This Talmudic saying is to the effect that the true and complete Geulo will come only after the birth of all the children who have to be born. Thus it is clear that when even a single woman aborts the birth of a child, it is not just her affair or her own problem, but it affects the Geulo of all our Jewish people and with it the Geulo of the whole world.

In light of the above, there can be no doubt that it is not only proper and right, but also a direct obligation on the part of every Jew, to do whatever is possible in this area, as well as in all matters of Torah and mitzvos to the best of one’s ability and influence.