Deaf Patient's Clinic Visit Highlights Urgent Need for Accessibility in Israeli Healthcare

Erez Avraham, a 35-year-old man deaf from birth, experienced significant accessibility failures during a visit to a Clalit Health Services dermatology clinic in Tel Aviv on January 18, 2026. He encountered a non-functioning appointment screen, no clear indication of when his turn arrived, and communication barriers with medical staff. His wife reported that despite waiting about 20 minutes, others were called ahead of him, and no effective communication tools were offered, such as written notes or screen sharing. The doctor reportedly refused to provide a written communication aid and performed a painful medical procedure involving a sprayed substance without explaining it beforehand, treating Erez as if he did not understand.

The family had filed a complaint online a week and a half earlier but received no response until media involvement prompted contact from a clinic manager. Erez's wife emphasized that her husband reads lips and is literate, stressing that being deaf does not mean he is unintelligent. She expressed frustration with the healthcare system's lack of accommodations and called for systemic change rather than financial compensation or superficial policy updates.

Following the incident, the family received messages from other deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals reporting similar experiences, suggesting a widespread problem. The wife also highlighted concerns about emergency situations where sign language interpreters may not be available, underscoring the critical nature of accessible communication in healthcare. She advocates for training medical staff on how to provide accessible services and wants all deaf patients to be treated with respect and fully informed about their care. "I want my husband to be able to go to the doctor alone," she said, emphasizing that accessibility is a fundamental right, not an extraordinary demand.