In a non-emergency situation what would be the din of a daughter aiding her ailing father in-law and a son aiding his ailing mother in-law.
Answer:
It is formally permitted for a daughter to aid her ailing father-in-law, and vice versa, even in a non-emergency situation.
Aiding an ailing person does not involve a “maga chibah” (“intimate contact”), and based on the Shach and later poskim, it will not involve a formal prohibition.
However, like most medical matters, it is certainly preferable that a man should aid a man, and a woman a woman, where this is possible and convenient. If there is a strong preference for a family member, however, this will not be an option.
The fact that the person involved is one’s father-in-law or mother-in-law does not make a difference to this ruling.
If there is a strong preference for a family member, however, this will not be an option.
What is meant by this?
Meaning, that if the person requiring the treatment particularly want family to do the treatment, and bringing in others will cause possible offense, then this won’t be an option.
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