Kaplan Hospital Investigated for Allegedly Taking Patient Blood Without Consent
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
Kaplan Hospital in Rehovot is being investigated by Israeli police after allegations surfaced that blood was taken from cardiology patients for research without their consent. The hospital's director of cardiology, Professor Kobi George, has been suspended as the investigation into potential fraud and procedural violations proceeds. This follows a previous report in late August 2026 concerning falsified training records in the same department. The hospital and the Ministry of Health are conducting separate reviews.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Kaplan Hospital is under police investigation for allegedly drawing patient blood for research without consent.
- Professor Kobi George, head of the cardiology department, has been suspended amid the investigation.
- The probe follows a prior finding of falsified training records in the same hospital department.
- The hospital has established a hotline for inquiries regarding the research.
- Both the hospital and the Ministry of Health are conducting separate reviews into the matter.
Kaplan Hospital in Rehovot is under investigation for suspicions that blood was drawn from cardiology patients for scientific research without their legally required informed consent. The hospital's management reported the issue to the Israel Police last week and has suspended Kobi George, the head of the cardiology complex, pending the investigation. The case has been assigned to the Central District Police's fraud investigation unit.
Hospital officials stated that the suspicions arose from preliminary data and requested the police to examine the research procedures. Sources within the hospital expressed concern that these potential violations might be part of a larger, more serious issue. The hospital has informed the Ministry of Health about the suspicions and the actions taken, and is considering further urgent measures, though details were not provided.
The hospital has not disclosed the subject of the research, its duration, the number of patients involved, or the names of those who organized it. They emphasized that the cardiology department remains operational and continues to accept patients. A dedicated hotline has been established for inquiries regarding the research at 08-9440245.
This is the second recent incident involving the hospital's cardiology department and its director. In late August 2026, a review by the Israel Medical Association's Scientific Council, prompted by a complaint from a resident physician, found that inaccurate information had been entered into specialization logs for years. This practice allegedly led to inadequate training for doctors pursuing combined cardiology and internal medicine specializations. The council recommended revoking the cardiology unit's accreditation for training specialists while Professor Kobi George remained on staff, and criticized hospital management for allegedly supporting the falsification of records.
Professor George has denied all allegations, calling the council's recommendations flawed and procedurally improper. He stated that only the Ministry of Health has the authority to grant or revoke such accreditation and that he would pursue legal action to defend his rights. Clalit Health Services, which owns Kaplan Hospital, has initiated disciplinary proceedings and formed a special commission led by Professor Ran Tur-Kaspai. The Ministry of Health has also launched its own independent review, clarifying that its director-general holds the sole authority over specialist training accreditation.
Mentioned
