Israeli Combat Veteran Files $300,000 Lawsuit After Hospital Security Assault Over Service Dog
Shlomi "Shoko" Shabtai, a 45-year-old disabled IDF veteran from Zikhron Yaakov suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has filed a lawsuit seeking 300,000 shekels against the Israeli Ministry of Health and Bnei Zion Medical Center in Haifa. The lawsuit follows an incident on May 31, when Shabtai was violently removed from the hospital by security guards while attempting to receive dental treatment accompanied by his service dog.
According to Shabtai and his attorney Michal Dloya, he presented his service dog certification upon entry and was initially allowed in, but was later stopped again by security who demanded the documents a second time. The situation escalated quickly, with Shabtai being forcibly pushed outside, thrown to the ground, and restrained by multiple guards despite not resisting or using violence. His wife recorded the confrontation, which gained widespread attention on social media and was reported by Walla news.
Shabtai claims the security guards ignored his and his wife's warnings about his PTSD and mental distress during the altercation. As a result, he was denied the dental care he came for and required medical treatment himself. The lawsuit alleges discrimination and violation of the Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities Law, noting that dental clinics are not among places where service dogs can be barred for sterility reasons. It also accuses the hospital administration of failing to provide full security camera footage after the incident.
The veteran states the event severely worsened his mental health, exacerbated his PTSD symptoms, damaged his sense of security, and caused him to avoid medical institutions. He demands 250,000 shekels for non-material damages and an additional 50,000 shekels as statutory compensation under disability rights law, plus legal costs. No defense has been filed yet, and the Ministry of Health and Bnei Zion Medical Center have not responded to requests for comment.
