Israeli Hospital Nurse Charged with Indecent Acts Against Patient

A nurse at Rambam Hospital in Haifa, Muhammad Saanalla, has been charged with indecent acts against a female patient. The indictment was filed on Sunday, October 4, by the Disciplinary Department of the Civil Service Commission and is being heard in the Jerusalem Disciplinary Court for Civil Servants. The investigation found that the patient was being treated at Rambam from February 5 to 8, 2024. On February 6, around 1:00 AM, Saanalla, working the night shift in the urology department, entered the patient's room, drew the curtain, checked her IV drip, and asked if she was in pain. When she reported abdominal pain, the nurse allegedly instructed her to remove her trousers. According to the indictment, Saanalla then began touching the woman's body under her shirt, repeatedly asking if she felt pain. He then touched her breast, asked her to remove her underwear, and touched her intimate areas. The patient complied with all instructions, believing it was part of a medical examination to locate the source of her pain. The Civil Service Commission concluded that Saanalla's actions were motivated by lust, constituting an abuse of his position and deception of the patient. The prosecution characterized the alleged acts as "indecent - consent obtained by deception." Saanalla also faces charges of unbecoming conduct and violating civil service discipline.

Rambam Hospital stated that they terminated their employment relationship with Saanalla several months ago, following their own disciplinary proceedings. The hospital's designated contact for sexual harassment prevention informed the patient of her rights, including reporting to the police, and offered assistance. The patient chose to file a complaint with the Disciplinary Department of the Civil Service Commission.