The Mitzvah of Visting the Sick
The mitzvah of bikur cholim - visiting the sick - is one of the important mitzvos which are included in the mitzvos of performing loving kindness. Visiting the sick is unlike many mitzvos that are limited by a maximum amount. No blessing is recited upon performing this mitzvah.
Although we typically avoid painful experiences on Shabbos, visiting the sick can be performed on Shabbos. When talking to or about the sick person on Shabbos, one should not use terminologies that connote pleading to G-d on his behalf . These words can bring the visitor to feelings of anguish. Rather he should say indirectly that a recovery should come soon. One who is deeply emotionally affected by visiting the sick should refrain from doing so on Shabbos.
It is very important to visit a sick person who has few visitors. One must not feel it is beneath his dignity ot visit the sick and should disregard any difference in the social status of the sick person. One should not bother or embarrass the person he visits. Therefore he should not visit more times than the sick person appreciates. He should not visit a person whose ailment causes him embarrassment. One should not visit at an inconvenient time, or during procedures which might embarrass the sick person.
The mitzvah goes beyond merely visiting the sick. Other aspects of the mitzvah include praying for the person; taking care of his personal needs either personally or through others; giving emotional support; and making sure his physical needs, like transportation are in order. If one can not visit personally he may fulfill the mitzvah partially by communicating by phone or letter.
One must be sensitive to the sick person’s illness and his state of mind. One should not tell him extremely bad news which might negatively affect his health, even to tell him of the passing of a close relative. If the sick person requests something which would be detrimental to his health one should not comply with his wishes. Of course, each situation requires individual assessment and consideration.
