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Some cancer patients have a stoma. This means they don't breathe through their mouth or nose but through a tube cut into their throat. It is covered by a filter which has to be changed daily. Water getting into the tube would go straight to the lung which would be fatal. It is not really a tube but the original airway cut into the throat. Some do have a tube fitted to keep it open but it is not always necessary.

How can such patients immerse into a mikva? I suppose it is possible to straight away pump the water out, but it still would be very dangerous. Although this is not necessarily a halacha question but more likely a practical question it is still very relevant.

patient
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  • Offhand, I'm not sure if full immersion is needed. I.e., you might fulfill the requirement without immersing your head. If this is permitted, would this solve the problem for you? – DanF Nov 22 '17 at 17:25
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    @DanF no part of the body can be above water. Parts could sometimes be covered and be underwater (cf. the laws of Chatzitza), but never above water. – Double AA Nov 22 '17 at 17:44
  • This case seems very similar to R Moshe's case of water in her ears – Double AA Nov 22 '17 at 17:50
  • Could the tube be covered during immersion? Wouldn't work with a finger but maybe the tube can be closed for a few seconds? – mbloch Nov 22 '17 at 17:52
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    Sounds like a question for your local Orthodox rabbi. – ezra Nov 22 '17 at 17:53
  • How about a stoma snorkel? http://www.thelarysnorkelstore.com/Snorkeling-Equipment.html – Clint Eastwood Nov 22 '17 at 18:19
  • I allowed myself to edit your question to make it less personal - otherwise it would very likely have been closed since MY doesn't offer personalized advice. For this one has to speak to a rav who knows the patient and his/her situation well. You can always further edit or rollback to get your original question back. And welcome to MiYodeya! – mbloch Nov 22 '17 at 18:32
  • You seem to also have deleted my other comment about using a snorkel. If the tube is closed one cannot breathe and whatever you close it with may be considered a chatsitsa. I must add that one breathes through the normal airway which has been cut at the throat although I called it a tube. So there is no chatsitsa there. The problem is really how to stop water getting in while immersing. Although I am a man the problem of course pertains more for a woman. – patient Nov 22 '17 at 18:39
  • @patient I didn’t delete any comment of yours, only moderators can do so and I doubt they did. Maybe you didn’t submit it fully. Thanks for re submitting it, it makes things clearer – mbloch Nov 22 '17 at 18:50

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