Tosefta, Gittin 3:8
תוספתא מסכת גיטין (ליברמן) פרק ג הלכה ח
….רופא אומן שריפא ברשות בית דין והזיק בשוגג פטור במזיד חייב מפני תיקון העולם
..If a professional doctor who practices medicine with the permission of the beit din (court of law) hurts someone—if the doctor did so by mistake, s/he is not liable; if on purpose, s/he is liable for the sake of tikkun ha’olam. [Translation by Rabbi Jill Jacobs]

Suggested Discussion Questions:

1. Why type of power does this text grant to doctors? What are the limitations on this power?

2. What does tikkun olam mean here? How does it function?

Time Period: Rabbinic (Maccabees through the Talmud)