Thursday, March 25, 2010

Ashkelon gravesite: "Relocation of ER will kill patients"

A GRAVE MATTER INDEED:
'Relocation of ER will kill patients'

Resigning Health Ministry director-general says medical professional must sit on committee reassessing cabinet's controversial decision to relocate Barzilai emergency room. Medical Association chairman to MKs: Why are discussing graves?


Meital Yasur Beit-Or (ynetnews.com)
Latest Update: 03.24.10, 12:07 / Israel News

Dr. Eitan Hai-Am, who recently resigned from his post as Health Ministry director-general over the cabinet's controversial decision to relocate the emergency room at Ashkelon's Barzilai Medical Center because of ancient graves found on the site, said the task force appointed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to review the issue is not professional enough.

"I have a problem with the inquiry commission. If we want good results then a medical professional must sit on the committee," Hai-Am told a meeting of the Knesset's State Control Committee on Wednesday.

Israel Medical Association chairman Dr. Leonid Eidelman said during the committee's meeting, "You've been discussing graves for the past two hours. Patients will die as a result of this decision and you are talking about (graves)."

"Building an emergency room far from the hospital's main building means killing patients. You do not realize that," he said.

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Background here.