Kvod Horav. I often visit sick people in a nearby hospital to my office, and after talking and comforting them I recite a Tefila as required. Frequently, there are more than one patient in the room and usually it is not Jewish. Do I have to go over and visit him also if I see the patient is interested? Do I also have to also recite a prayer for him?

Talmud Gittin (61a) teaches that we visit the Gentile ill together with the Jewish ones. Shulchan Aruch (Y.D. 335: 9) and Rambam (H. Melachim 10: 12) rule the same. The reason given is to promote ‘Darkei Sholom’ or ways of peace and mutual understanding and care. Many Poskim mention that we visit them even by themselves. Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that one can also recite a prayer for them as it is a Kiddush Hashem.