Health Ministry Shuts Tel Aviv Clinic Over Severe Safety Violations

Israel's Ministry of Health has ordered the immediate closure of the private Medica Tel Aviv medical center following an emergency inspection that uncovered egregious violations of patient safety protocols. The inspection revealed that nurses were performing surgical procedures without proper authorization, and anesthetics were administered by doctors lacking specialized training in anesthesiology. A critical finding was the improper use of a cocaine solution, which the ministry deemed a significant risk to patient well-being. The probe also found that unqualified personnel were working in operating rooms, and the clinic was conducting procedures beyond its registered scope. A serious lapse in safety was noted where surgical counts, intended to ensure no instruments or materials were left inside patients, were falsified in medical records before procedures were completed. The ministry highlighted systemic issues in the clinic's oversight and control systems, including breaches in infection prevention related to anesthetics and the handling of controlled substances like cocaine, which is used medically as a local anesthetic and vasoconstrictor, particularly in nasal surgeries.

The clinic's medical director was absent during the inspection, and the acting director reportedly lacked the necessary qualifications. The Ministry of Health stated that these findings indicate widespread problems that endanger patients. The closure order was issued by the district health official, and the management and owners of the Medica network will face hearings. Personal measures may be taken against staff who acted outside their authority. This incident follows a previous report of a surgical error at Assuta Ramat HaHayal clinic in Tel Aviv, where a surgeon operated on the wrong eye during a strabismus correction procedure.