Yoma 83: Health Matters

A person who is I'll and might need food on Yom Kippur is fed according to the recommendations of experts. But if the person who sick contradicts the doctors, we trust the sick person more even than the doctors. Unless the more lenient position comes from the doctor - what if a sick person doesn't realize the degree of illness.. so then the experts win. And if there are no experts? Trust the sick person. Plus, a discussion of the modern day ramifications, and a couple of personal stories. Also, the classic mishnah in pikuach nefesh - one who is seized by a "bolmous" - an insatiable hunger: feed him what he asks for, until it has passed. What about when the medical circumstances are unclear - there are open questions about the reality. Despite the fact that there isn't a clear and definite need, the halakhah is clear: do all you can, until or unless you become certain that the person has already died (in that worst case scenario). Plus, a puzzling story...