A young girl needed a kidney transplant and the doctors suggested a family member. Her single brother asked Rav Moshe Shternbuch (2:732) if he is obligated, forbidden, or allowed to donate his kidney to her and this is what he wrote. On one hand it is a question of living a normal life with a normal diet or being beholden to a machine and not being able to eat normally. On the other hand says Rav Shternbuch, a person can survive on dialysis. It is not a question of life or death. Additionally there is no guarantee that the kidney will not be rejected.
Therefore he says the brother is not obligated to give his kidney to her. Even though there is a mitzva of tzedaka to family members, this doesn’t apply to organs especially an important one like a kidney. He cites the Radvaz (3:627) who says that it is unfathomable to think one is required to give up an organ to save another Jew. He also brings the Maharil Diskin who says that although Safeik D’Oiraisa L’Chumra, that is only if it is guaranteed that your action will change the facts. Since here there is no guarantee of success, a person is not obligated to try.
Is it assur then to go through with this transplant? Since the Doctor’s say that it is not life threatening to give up a kidney, even though it is painful for a short while and a possible problem in the future for the donator, nevertheless since you have a chance to save someone from a life of misery, not only is it permissible to do it but it is even considered a Midas Chasidus. Fortunate is the one who is up to the task! Certainly for a sister who is your own flesh and blood and it is hard to watch her live a life of pain and sorrow, being forced to remain unmarried. Fortunate is your lot in this world and the next!
Author’s Note: We try to convey the Tshuva to the best of our ability. We admit that our understanding may not be accurate. Please also understand that this Tshuva may not be the final word on this topic. One should consult a Rav before drawing any conclusions. Revach
Are you kidding me, you can’t even try to help out a “BLOOD RELATIVE”. I wouldn’t want a family member like you.
You can’t judge someone unfavorably who hesitates to give up a kidney even for a close relative. It’s a very scary decision to make.
I hope I have the courage to give a kidney one day to save another Yid.
What is wrong with both of you? All the brother did was to rightfully ask Daas Torah before undergoing a major operation. Do you know anything else about this story?
PLEASE dont be so judgemental.
Lets start with the small sacrifices.First donate blood and platelets to Bikkur Cholim then we’ll talk about kidneys.
The psak din a person received for a personal shaila should not be posted on a public forum. When a posek means for a teshuva to be shared – they author it and review it carefully.
Dear Mr WOW (1st post),
Are you out of your mind? The first thing you do IS ask a shailah. That’s what it means to be a Torah yid. You live life by the Torah, and in doing so, you consult a Rov with a shailah. And who better to ask than one of the gedolim. No question the brother wants to help, but that doesn’t preclude asking daas torah.
And even if he chose not to help, because of fear or any other reason; that’s not your place to criticize. Yes, a family member can say no. It’s a difficult thing to do, but he has the right to do it.
You can never know the full story unless you are intimately involved in the case. That being said, you can never judge.
So Mr WOW, why don’t you look up your local Bikur Cholim number, offer to donate blood, or maybe even bone marrow. And while the needle sinks into your vein, think about how difficult the decision is to be cut open and have an organ removed….even for a family member. It’s not so simple.
Yes, the kidney is an important organ but you only need ONE to survive.
I am a receiver of a kidney transplant in December. My neighbor donated to me and it was the most wonderful, selfless act anyone could have ever done. Life on a dialysis machine isn’t by any means a way to live. 4-6 hours, 3 days a week spent in a hospital is beyond tiring. Not to mention, after a dialysis treatment the body is worn down and all you want to do is sleep for the rest of the day. Sometimes it can carry on to the following day. Your fluid intake is limited and your diet is limited. You are also more susceptible to infections.
Yes, there is a chance the kidney could reject once transplanted – but there are so many medicines now out there to help and usually it can be prevented if caught soon enough. My transplanted kidney didn’t “wake up” fully until April, 5 months after receiving it. It was a bumpy ride but the end result is amazing and I am now free to live almost a normal life.
I could go on and on why living life on dialysis is not a walk in the park or how amazing it would be to give someone the gift of life but in the end the choice is yours.
There is a asken in town that donated a kidney and he is Boruch Hashem doing great. It is about a month since his transplant and he looks great as well.