Kaplan Hospital Investigates Alleged Medical Malpractice in Cardiology Department

Following the preliminary findings, Kaplan Medical Center suspended the director of the cardiology department, Professor Kobi George, pending an investigation into his responsibility and the potential involvement of other physicians. The hospital also established a dedicated hotline for patient inquiries at 08-9440245. According to Globes, the patients whose blood was taken for the research have not yet been informed. Despite the ongoing investigation, the hospital emphasized that routine medical services in the cardiology department continue as usual, with patient safety and treatment continuity fully assured.

This scandal emerges less than two months after a separate controversy in the same department under Professor George's supervision. In that previous affair, a resident physician revealed that cardiology trainees were allegedly allowed to skip required internal medicine training stages by falsifying hospital records. The Israel Medical Association subsequently revoked the hospital's accreditation for cardiology residency programs as long as Professor George remained on staff. The Ministry of Health has established an external inquiry team to investigate both the new allegations regarding blood samples and the previous training scandal.