Does the patient follow the doctor's ruling?

Q: If a doctor issues a ruling to a patient, does the patient have to follow it, or is it necessary to consult a scholar regarding that?

A: The patient must consult scholars regarding the religious rulings that doctors tell him; because doctors have their own domain in matters related to their medical knowledge, and religious knowledge has its own specialists. Therefore, the patient should not act on a ruling until he has consulted the scholars, even by telephone, or he should send someone to ask on his behalf. It is not permissible for a doctor or anyone else to issue a ruling except based on knowledge, such as saying: "I asked so-and-so scholar about such-and-such, and he answered me with such-and-such." The doctor should ask scholars in any location, in any hospital, and in any country. He must ask the scholars and judges of the country about whatever is difficult for him so that he can issue rulings to patients. Thus, the doctor must ask, and it is not permissible for him to issue a ruling without knowledge, because he is not among the scholars of religious knowledge. Rather, he should inform about what pertains to medicine, be careful in that, and give advice.