“oomis1105 – Pretty close, p’sik reishe is an inevitable side effect. A regular, possible, unintentional side effect that is not inevitable is called a davar she-eino miskavein”
Thanks for the clarification. Mekol melamdai hiskalti.
I personally do not feel comfortable witht he idea of using a Shabbos elevator (just not shabbosdig to me), but especially when people have difficulty with walking up steep flights of stairs (i.e, elderly, people with leg or back injuries, people visiting someone on the 10th floor of a hospital – with double flights of steps per floor), it is a benefit to them to have the heter to be able to use this. I know that in the local hospital and the Jewish nursing home, there are Shabbos elevators (so marked), with the posting that the elevator will automatically stop at every floor (so do not push the buttons). I am certain the VAAD in my neighborhood would not allow this if it were l’chatchilah assur, and if all major poskim assered it. But even if muttar, I prefer not to.