Q. If an elder patient waiting for a life saving organ transplant is given a date, but he knows a young yeshiva bochur who needs the same transplant, can he offer his place in the list? (he will only be removed one or two places).
A. To answer correctly this question more detailed information is needed. Such as the degree of danger to the life of both patients, the amount of time that would be added to the wait for the first recipient etc.
In principle we rule that ‘Ones life preempts the life of others’ (Bava Metzia 62a). However, up to a certain degree one is permitted to risk his life to save others.
Since all cases are different, and they are many crucial and variable details to every situation, Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that questions on specific cases, should be answered by competent Rabbinical and Medical authorities, working together and familiar with the details of the case.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller and Horav Aharon Miller Shlit’a