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I concur. The Orthodox and their light timers are as guilty of misinterpretation as any, simply because the timer violates the spirit of the tenet they claim to be upholding: to wit, electricity doesn't come from a hole in the wall, there are people ON DUTY in most powerplants and every major distribution centre 24/7. They're not there attending synagogue on the Sabbath, they're WORKING!

To use someone else's work product from Sabbath day work, or cause them to work on the Sabbath, is forbidden under the strict interpretation of most other biblical edicts (kosher eg) I've seen from the Orthodox.

Then again, I'm not an Orthodox Rabbi, so I am ignorant as to their reasoning around their own rules.

The theology of turning on lights on the Sabbath is something I won't get into. This is about turning off someone's life any day of the week. It seems weaselly to me, especially the part about intent. It's the old "I don't intend for this guy to die, I just intend to cut off his air" trick. Yeah, right.

This is what you get when professional medical so-called "ethicists" get involved. Job description of a professional ethicist: Make up BS excuses for the unconscionable.