Health Ministry Faults Private Hospital After Patient Suffers Life-Threatening Complications

A Ministry of Health investigation has uncovered serious systemic failures at the private Medika Hospital in Afula, following a life-threatening complication suffered by a 50-year-old patient who underwent a private liposuction procedure on July 9, 2025. The patient experienced severe internal injuries, including holes in her intestines, during the surgery. She was subsequently transferred to the public Ha'Emek Hospital in Afula, where she required four additional surgeries, including the removal of part of her small intestine, and remained hospitalized in intensive care. The patient stated she has not yet recovered physically or mentally.

The investigation committee, headed by Professor Ariel Hallevi, a former head of surgery at Assaf Harofeh Hospital, found that the patient complained of severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and weakness shortly after the procedure. Despite her deteriorating condition, she was kept for observation at Medika Afula, which is classified as a surgical clinic not typically used for overnight stays. The committee criticized the operating surgeon for not arriving at the hospital until the following morning, despite repeated calls from the nursing staff about the patient's condition. He then examined and discharged her, only for her to collapse at home hours later and be rushed to Ha'Emek Hospital.

The committee determined that the surgeon exhibited a "significant flaw in his conduct" by prioritizing stable vital signs over the patient's overall condition and failing to return to the clinic overnight as required. It also noted that the clinic was not equipped to handle overnight patient observation and that transferring the patient to an emergency room that night should have been considered. The committee further highlighted issues with the hospital's use of on-call contract staff, which prevented nurses from escalating concerns about patient care to medical management.

Further findings revealed that a discharge summary written by the surgeon shortly after the operation did not reflect the patient's subsequent decline, a practice the committee deemed a "serious flaw and an improper procedure that must be stopped immediately." The surgeon, who reportedly learned liposuction techniques from a colleague and a course provided by equipment suppliers, claimed to have never encountered complications in his 100-200 liposuction procedures, a statement the committee found questionable given known medical literature on potential severe risks.

Medika Afula also failed to report the complication internally or to the Ministry of Health; the ministry was alerted by Ha'Emek Hospital. The investigation concluded that a licensed surgical clinic cannot function merely as a room-rental facility, disclaiming responsibility for the performance and decisions of the doctors operating there. The hospital's management, including the medical director, must ensure doctors' expertise, adherence to procedures, and proper handling of complications.

In response, Medika Medical Center stated that patient safety is its top priority and that its surgical and recovery teams have been praised in past Ministry of Health inspections. They emphasized that leading public healthcare professionals perform surgeries at their facility, viewing it as professional, high-quality, and safe. Following the incident, Medika conducted its own investigation, reviewed work processes, and terminated the surgeon's contract. Medika is one of Israel's largest private healthcare networks, co-owned by Clalit and Leumit health funds, Harel and Phoenix insurance companies, and private investors.