Whenever we are ill, G‑d requires us to seek the help of qualified physicians and follow all of their instructions. Likewise, G‑d has empowered physicians to heal the sick. But whereas doctors are merely encouraged to heal whoever is sick, they are obligated to try to save someone’s life when it is threatened.
Just as there are both life-threatening and non-life-threatening bodily illnesses, so it is with spiritual “illnesses.” Spiritually, a person is in “mortal danger” when his condition has begun to affect his ability or desire to fulfill the Torah’s commandments, since it is through our performance of the commandments that our spiritual vitality flows into us.
The rules pertaining to a physical doctor also apply to a spiritual “doctor” – i.e., anyone who is capable of helping someone who is spiritually “ill.” When someone is suffering from a minor spiritual “ailment,” we are encouraged to offer spiritual assistance. But when someone is in spiritually “mortal danger” – i.e., his fulfillment of G‑d’s commandments is threatened – we are obligated to offer assistance, not allowing any other considerations to get in the way.1