Sutures on Shabbos
Life-threatening wounds, or wounds that can develop a severe infection, may be sutured on Shabbos, but what are the guidelines regarding other types of wounds? As previously discussed, one of the melachos of Shabbos is Toifer (sewing or attaching items). There is a machlokes regarding the status of sutures; on the one hand, sutures attach two sides of skin and, therefore, create one entity like the stitching of clothes or attaching a label to a specimen; on the other hand, sutures are eventually removed or dissolved, considering it temporary. Additionally, melachos usually apply to the body in the sense that one may not perform that melacha even on the body. For example, one is liable for the melacha of Kosiev by writing on their body. However, there is no precedent by Toifer that the body itself can be considered the melacha.
The Tzitz Eliezer (20:18) rules that any suturing would be permitted on Shabbos because it is considered Tefira L’zman at most, which, as previously discussed (in the past article), is permissible. However, Rav Shlomo Zalman Aurbach zt”l (Minchas Shlomo 2:35) and Rav Shmuel Wosner zt”l (Shevet Halevi 9:74) ruled that sutures do fall under the umbrella of Tefira.
Regarding wounds that will create scarring, those who view suturing as tefirah will only allow for suturing that suffices the needs because of Pikuach nefesh; therefore, a physician would have to stop suturing once there is no danger to the patient. However, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (ibid. 34) would permit extra sutures, although for aesthetic reasons, because of the concept of Hatzlas Adam (Saving a person’s life, i.e., saving an individual from embarrassment or distress). Rav Moshe Sternbuch Shlit”a (Teshuvos v’Hanhagos 3:103) rules similarly because once the necessary sutures are put in place because of Pikuach Nefesh, adding the other sutures is not considered Tefirah because those sutures are not essential and do not play a role in keeping the overall wound closed.
Adapted from medicalhalacha.org