Asher Yatzar - Urinary Catheter

QUESTION: If someone is attached to a urinary catheter, should he recite Asher Yatzar and, if so, when should it be said?

ANSWER: The Rav Tzvi Pesach Frank zt”l (Har Tzvi OC 6) writes that one must recite Asher Yatzar even if urine is drained through a catheter. He explains that if the catheter had a blockage and did not function properly, the person would become ill. Even if only one drop comes out, he must give thanks to Hashem that his body is functioning, even though it is not the way he would prefer. The Tzitz Eliezer (18:78) agrees with the ruling. However, he clarifies that one may only recite the beracha when one sees that the flow of urine has stopped. However, if one cannot tell when the urine stops flowing, or if it is continuously dripping, he may only recite the beracha of Asher Yatzar once a day, in the morning when he wakes up. 

Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe O”C 1:27) writes that the tubes and the drainage bag of the catheter should be covered by a cloth during the recitation of all berachos. 

 ____________________________________________________

The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.