Israeli doctors and patients face conflict

The right of patients to know and the right of doctors to testify freely about cases have been pitted against each other in two legal clashes in Israel. The Israel Medical Association recently instructed its 12000 members not to cooperate with any internal hospital investigations looking into possible cases of medical negligence. The reason for this unprecedented action was a ruling by the Supreme Court that such testimony could be used against doctors if they are taken to court.

The case in question concerns a man who, having attempted …