[Avodah] Choices

[mgluck at gmail.com]

RJR:
Dr. can switch to be off first 2 days of sukkot shift for a prior Friday 10 AM to 10 PM. There are a number of halachic issues but I’d like to focus on two:
Is the affirmative choice to switch shifts comparable to affirmatively putting yourself into a situation of ones versus not requesting anything being considered a shev val taaseh and thus a less objectionable approach. You might even consider this somewhat comparable to deciding whether to throw the switch on the trolley.
Also, is there a comparison to the get out of jail free card? Perhaps by switching shifts you have accelerated a violation of shabbat. Let’s say the holiday is in two weeks, who knows what will happen in two weeks and maybe no violation at all will occur.

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MYG:
On the context of the question - are we talking about someone with a heter to work on Shabbos, or someone who may not? If he may, then it isn't chillul Shabbos; if he may not, then why should we allow him to be makdim the issur? Maybe, like you're saying, the hospital will close down and he'll end up not working on Sukkos. 

But on your question about "the affirmative choice to switch shifts" being "comparable to affirmatively putting yourself into a situation" - it's not really doing that; the doctor already requested or okayed the Sukkos shifts earlier, so it's his/her choice either way. (At least the way I understand shift assignments to work based on the medical personnel in my family.)

KT,
MYG