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Answered by Rabbi Ariel Ovadia
Q: My grandfather must be given an injection daily at his home. May I, as a grandchild, administer the injection?
A: Yes. The Gemara states that grandchildren are considered like one’s own children. This would have implications regarding the fulfillment of the Mitzvah of having children[1], the obligation to teach one’s sons Torah[2] among other laws. In this vein, the Rama rules[3] that one must also honor his grandparents.
Nevertheless, with regards to the added prohibition not to curse or injure one’s parents (a Hiyuv Mita), there is a difference between grandparents and parents. The Rambam writes[4] that grandparents are not included in the added prohibition of cursing a parent, and are only subject to the general prohibition of cursing any Jew. It would seem that this would also be the case with regards to inflicting injury. While the Shulhan Aruch rules[5] that a son should not conduct a medical procedure on a parent that involves or may lead to blood-letting, unless he is the only one around; this does not seem to be the case with regards to a grandparent. Nevertheless, the Teshuvot Torah LiShma (attributed to the Ben Ish Hai)[6] writes that there might still be a rabbinic prohibition, and therefore, if possible, it would be preferable to find a substitute[7].
Sources:
[1] יבמות ס”ב ע”ב
[2] קידושין ל”א ע”א
[3] יו”ד סי’ ר”מ סכ”ד ודלא כמהרי”ק ועוד ראשונים ע”ש, וע’ רש”י בראשית מה, מו. ולהלכה נקטו האחרונים כהרמ”א, ע’ שדי חמד מער’ כ’ כלל קכ”א, וילקוט יוסף הל’ כיבוד או”א פרק יד.
[4] פ”ה מהל’ ממרים ה”ב
[5] יו”ד סי’ רמ”א ס”ג, ע’ ברמ”א וברמב”ם שם
[6] סי’ רס”ה
[7] דבלא”ה אפי’ באביו מדין הכאת אביו שרי [ע’ מנ”ח מצוה מ”ח אות ה’] אי לאו משום חשש שמא יעשה חבורה בשוגג שלא לצורך, ובמקום ספק דרבנן כזה אין להחמיר בשאינו מתכוין ואינו פס”ר ושוגג.