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Kaplan Medical Center Faces Dual Allegations of Research Consent Violations and Residency Training Irregularities
By Drooid · · How we work
New Complaint Over Unconsented Blood Samples
Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot’s management submitted a police complaint alleging that blood samples were taken from patients in the cardiology department without the patients’ informed consent. The hospital said the suspicion emerged after preliminary findings raised concerns about possible misconduct during a research study. Hospital officials reported that the Health Ministry has been notified and that immediate steps were taken to safeguard patient care while the investigation proceeds.
Prior Residency Training Scandal
The blood-sample complaint follows a separate, earlier allegation involving the same department’s director, Professor Kobi George. A resident doctor reported that internal-medicine training logs had been falsified, allowing cardiology residents to bypass the required internal-medicine stage of their residency. An internal committee confirmed that residency records described as completed were, in fact, fictitious, resulting in specialist certification without full training. The practice was said to have persisted for years under Professor George’s supervision.
Government and Institutional Response
The Ministry of Health created an external inquiry team to examine both the consent issue and the residency-training irregularities. The inquiry initially reviewed the conduct of hospital management and health-insurance funds, then expanded to question the involvement of Professor Zion Hagay, chairman of the Kaplan residency board and head of the Israel Medical Association. The head of the internal-medicine department was also summoned after signing the disputed residency documents. The Ministry continues to monitor the affair through the same external review team.
Ongoing Hospital Services
Despite the investigations, Kaplan’s cardiology department has stated that medical services are continuing as usual. Additional measures have been implemented to ensure continuity of care and patient safety while the allegations are examined.
