995. Feeding a Sick Person on Yom Kippur

Shvisas Asor 2:7

If a person eats salted roast meat, the salt is counted as part of the volume of the food. Similarly, brine on a vegetable is counted as part of the overall volume. This is because condiments that make a food fit to be eat and that are mixed with the food are considered part of the food. If one was already full from overeating so that food did not interest him at all, but then he ate more anyway, he is not liable. This is because it is like a person eating something that is unfit for human consumption. Even though the additional food is fit to eat for one who is hungry, it is not fit for one who is so overstuffed.

Shvisas Asor 2:8

If a dangerously-ill person requests food on Yom Kippur, he should be fed until he says that it is enough even if the doctors say that it is unnecessary. If a sick person says that it is not necessary for him to eat but a doctor says that it is necessary, the patient should be fed according to the doctor’s instructions, assuming that the doctor is sufficiently qualified. If one doctor says that a patient must eat and another doctor says that this is not necessary, the patient should be fed. If several doctors say that the patient must eat and other doctors say that this is not necessary, we act according to the majority opinion, or according to the doctors with greater expertise. All this is only when the patient does not say that he needs to eat. If he says he needs to eat, he should be fed. If the patient doesn’t say that he needs to eat and the doctors disagree, if they are all experts and are evenly divided, then the patient should be fed.