DAF DISCUSSIONS - BAVA KAMA 49

eli turkel asks:

according to various explanations given would the halacha change given that in modern days the danger of a mother dying in childbirth is very small

eli turkel, raanana israel

The Kollel replies:

Dear Eli,

Good question. The assessment is made based on what her market price would have been before and after the miscarriage (1), which will depend on the prevailing chances of her survival, which are higher today, as you correctly pointed out. It is reasonable that Raban Shimon ben Gamliel (2) would more likely agree to the Tana Kama nowadays that death in childbirth is more rare, although recall that there still is a non-zero chance.

I hope this helps.

Yishai Rasowsky