NHS Jewish BRCA
For those who were unable to attend, and for those who want to refresh and check the information, the recording of the session is now on the Jewish Medical Association UK website and can be accessed here.
Octogenerian Hostages
Hamas treatment of older hostages has been described as “a severe example of elder abuse”. In a new article Profs Mark Clarfield (Ben Gurion) and Hagai Levin document what happened to t three elderly men who were taken hostage on October 7th 2023. They describe the extreme “pre-morbid” vulnerability of these hostages and provide information about their clinical situation and about the extreme stresses to which they were subjected. Their article can be accessed here.
Mortality statistics in Gaza
In July 2024 Khatib et al published in the Lancet that mortality statistics in Gaza are seriously underestimated. Including indirect mortality and using modelling approaches they put forward a figure of 178,000. It took four months for the Lancet to publish comment and rebuttal. Finally three letters appeared on 6th November 2024: from Profs Beyar and Skorecki (Israel), from Dr Oratz and colleagues (USA) and from Andrew Gilbert (Vice President, Board of Deputies UK). All three of these letters note the fallacies of the methodology and extrapolations, deplore how its findings are already being cited widely. The letters can be accessed here.
Antisemitism in Medicine
Since October 7th 2023 serious manifestations of antisemitism in medicine have emerged in many countries, including the UK. Documenting this worldwide, and preparing robust responses, is essential.
Two important articles have been published recently on this theme. In the American Journal of Medicine Wald and Roth argue that there is a moral imperative on doctors to counter antisemitism, and propose ways to do this. Their article can be accessed here. In addition, they have also published about episodes where “commencements” have been exploited for antisemitic purpose.
Schwartz et al took a different approach, monitoring social media and surveying doctors, and undertaking a quantitative approach. This important and disturbing article highlights, simply but clearly, the way that since October 7th antisemitism has emerged and permeated widely – and internationally - within medicine.
Tekes Zikaron – Ceremony of Remembrance
On 7th October 2024 the NHS National Jewish Staff Network held a Tekes Zikaron - Ceremony of Remembrance - for all 1,200 lives lost in the atrocities carried out by terrorists on 7th October 2023, and for those hostages who lost their lives in the hands of their captors; and to express the hope that the remaining 101 hostages, who will have spent a year in captivity, will be rescued or freed soon to return to their families and homes.
Speakers were Dr Yoel Har-Even (Vice President for Global Affairs, Sheba Medical Centre, Ramat Gan, Israel) and Steven Phillips (Founder of Jewish Employee Resource Group). Both spoke about their experiences on and since 7th October 2023. A Yarzheit (Memorial) Candle was lit in memory of the lives lost and members online able to do so were invite to join the group in that way.
To coincide with this a joint statement from the Chairs of the NHS Jewish Network and Chairs of the NHS Muslim Network was posted:
Today marks the first anniversary of Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel. The events of that day, and all that has followed, continue to be profoundly shocking and distressing for us all. We have witnessed the tragic loss of tens of thousands of innocent lives in Israel, Gaza and Lebanon. We have seen many more families and communities torn apart by displacement, loss and fear. Our thoughts today are also with the 101 hostages who will mark a full year held in captivity.
As representatives of our Networks, we know that the events of October 7th and the ongoing conflict affect many NHS staff and their families and friends – in some cases because of direct links to the region, but often through the rise of antisemitism and Islamophobia that it has precipitated here in England. We know events both at home and abroad can generate strong opinions, which mean colleagues do not always feel safe at work.
As we reach this anniversary, it will be important for our colleagues to have time and space to discuss these events and their experiences. In that spirit, we have written these blogs to share our respective thoughts and perspective on the last year. We hope our words will help bring colleagues together – drawing on the values of compassion, respect and diversity that sit at the heart of our service – to reflect together, to remember together, to draw strength and allyship from one another.
Co-signed by:
Naveed Sharif – Associate Director for Culture and Inclusion, Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB & Co-Chair of the NHS National Muslim Network
Fatma Habib – Clinical Lead Urgent Treatment Centre, Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust & Co-Chair of the NHS National Muslim Network
Sajjad Mushtaq - Implementation and Business Change Support Manager & Co-Chair of the NHS National Muslim Network
Yusra Choudry - Training Programme Facilitator, Foundation Pharmacy & Co-Chair of the NHS National Muslim Network
Emma Orrock – Head of Clinical Senates, East Midlands and West Midlands Clinical Senates & Co-Chair/ Co-Founder of the NHS National Jewish Network
Natalie Murray – Senior Manager for Clinical Programmes, NHSE & Co-Chair of the NHS National Jewish Network
Martin Ware – Head of Hospital at Home/ Virtual Wards, NHSE & Co-Chair/ Co-Founder of the NHS National Jewish Network
Muslim Staff Network’s Statement 7 October - 07/10/2024
A year on from the attacks in Israel, we want to begin by acknowledging the sadness, pain and heartbreaking trauma of those who have lost friends and family on both sides of this heinous conflict. The suffering of innocent Palestinians and Israelis, the profound injuries of those hurt and the devastating destruction of homes and neighbourhoods.
Escalating events in the Middle East bring nothing more to our colleagues - regardless of their demographic connections - than greater anxiety and fear about what has happened and what could happen further. We know how sad and worrying a time this is for our communities and pray for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire in the region.
We feel the pain of the families of the hostages, as well as the thousands of men, women and children that have been killed during this catastrophic conflict. According to UNICEF, more than 14,000 children have been killed and around 1.9 million people (about 9 in 10 of Gaza’s population) are estimated to have been internally displaced, half of them children (UNICEF, Sept 2024).
Far away from the terror of the conflict and those living through it, for Muslims and Jews in the UK, these events have exacerbated existing challenges related to Islamophobic / anti-Muslim and antisemitic rhetoric. This has led to wider discrimination and affected the mental health of many of our brothers and sisters, who have loved ones being caught up in this conflict.
The riots that erupted this summer, highlighted the anti-Islamic rhetoric across the UK. We have seen many incidences of our sister’s hijabs being pulled off, subjection to Islamophobic abuse and the fear of simply getting on public transport in case of abuse. Our Muslim colleagues have even had to face vitriol from patients they care for – some refusing to be treated by them, and sadly also from other members of NHS staff - microaggressions, verbal and physical abuse. Many of our members have reported experiencing increased levels of animosity, attacks and hate crimes against them. Ultimately this has heightened the pressure to either speak out or remain silent on geo-political issues, which affects their wellbeing and sense of belonging in the workplace.
Kindness, compassion, and inclusion is part of our DNA and this starts with the willingness to call out and challenge poor behaviour irrespective of whom it is directed at. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with all our colleagues where oppression or discrimination rears its ugly head. We are stronger together, and as the Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him said)
“No matter to which nation or tribe you belong and no matter what your status is, you are equal…”
We pray that the hostages are returned safely and the relentless bombing stops.
We pray that that the focus is on what binds us, rather than what divides.
We wish peace and harmony for all our diverse communities.
*The Muslim Network is a non-political organisation set up to provide support and community to Muslims within the NHS.
If you have been affected by these events, please visit our mental health and wellbeing page to see the support we can offer you.
Reflections of a British Jew – 7 October Commemorative Event – Emma Orrock’s blog - 07/10/2024
I do not feel safe in Britain.
As 7 October 2024 approaches, one year after the attack on Israel, speaking up still feels fraught with complexity and anxiety, which probably encapsulates how I feel today and have felt every day since 7 October last year (2023). Self-conscious about revealing my Jewish identity, not feeling safe psychologically or physically, experiencing othering, gaslighting and imposed divisiveness. I have become much more wary and I desperately wrestle with feelings of paranoia, which make me do things like remove a background of Channukah (the Jewish “festival of lights”) from my laptop (December 2023) when I suddenly realised on a packed train to work that people could see this and may then realise I am Jewish.
I have witnessed a significant rise in antisemitism (anti-Jewish racism and hatred) which has doubled in the first half of 2024 alone[1] and has affected all parts of life for British Jews – in our schools, universities, workplaces (including in our NHS workplaces), directed at our synagogues, on our streets and on-line. The underlying antisemitism that existed before 7 October in our country is now being expressed more virulently and is becoming normalised. Targeted antisemitic attacks and vandalism, antisemitic incidents and intimidation and harassment.
As well as wrestling with my own feelings of turmoil and sadness, members of our Jewish Staff Network are absorbing the depth of feelings within the Jewish NHS community – and beyond. Antisemitism punches up and down – anti-racist banners that tell Jews they are not welcome in London.
As I write this, I am also aware of the many forms of discrimination that have been increasing over the last year including a significant rise in Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate and on our streets the recent deplorable riots and acts of violence affecting our British Muslim community and migrant communities.
As a great-granddaughter of immigrants who left Russia in the late 1800s to escape the violent pogroms against Jews, I often wonder how Joseph and Dora might feel about what is happening in Britain today. They left Russia so that future generations of our family could live in a relative safe haven as Jews. My family anglicised their names and assimilated into British culture and still the hate pursues us. It is profound to realise that the survival instincts of my ancestors are the reason why I am alive today. It’s because of this I am proud to be a Jew and I hold onto hope that this will pass.
Growing up in Britain as a Jew I have always felt a pang of fear when revealing my identity, a fear rooted in my earliest memories of antisemitism. Antisemitism takes many forms, both blatant and subtle, and it can occur when you are in the same “room” or when holding a perfectly calm conversation and then upon revealing my Jewish ethnicity I have become suddenly faced with vile hate. As an ethnic minority, from a very early age you are aware that you are different - or at least you may be perceived by others to be so. I remember vividly the sting of hate when, at just 11 years old, in the first few days in my first year of secondary school (yes I am that age!) the other kids in my class were telling antisemitic jokes. They may not have even understood themselves what they were saying but I felt sure the teacher who was present and said nothing will have understood. I decided on that day to never tell another soul in my school that I was Jewish. Now, decades later, my heart breaks as I hear my eldest nephew – just 11 himself – grapple with the same fears. I wonder, with deep sorrow, what has changed, and why does it feel so much worse now? What kind of a world are we creating when a child has to hide their identity.
So, how have I been dealing with my day-to-day emotions over the last 12 months – which are exhausting at times.
Even though this has been incredibly hard, I have been trying to convert my feelings of helplessness into positive action.
I have been converting my feelings of despondency into unity and friendship.
And I have drawn strength to persevere from our Jewish Staff Network.
Because the support we need is from each other (and our institutions) and because we are stronger together and allyship is powerful. My hope is for peace and reconciliation and this begins with small conversations and friendships with people of all diversities and beliefs. Such conversations may be difficult at first and there may be times when we have to agree to disagree, but with patience, compassion and a willingness in the belief that we are stronger together than separate and so I reach out my hand in friendship to you and I hope that brighter days will be ahead.
As I look toward the future, I hold on to the hope that one day, my nephew will proudly speak of his heritage without fear.
“Imagine all the people Living life in peace” (John Lennon)
Emma Orrock, co-founder and co-chair NHS Jewish Staff Network
Anglo-Israel Cardiology Forum
On 1st September the Anglo-Israel Cardiology Forum held a welcoming reception to bring together British cardiologists with their Israeli colleagues attending the London European Society of Cardiology meeting. Dr Duncan Dymond, co-founder of the Forum, introduced the event and Prof Stephen Brecker, who organised the event, expressed his appreciation of the way that attendees had responded with enthusiasm to the invitation. Both speakers said that we could take pride in the innovative approach to cardiology taken by our Israeli friends and colleagues. They showed a video message from Douglas Murray (author and political commentator), expressing support for cardiologists fostering co-operation between British and Israeli medicine. Prof Amit Segev, President, Israel Heart Society, introduced his talk by calling for a minute of silence in memory of the six hostages whose death had just been announced. He said that linking us together in this way was a key priority in every way - for social, medical and professional reasons. Prof David Katz spoke about the role of the Jewish Medical Association UK – how much energy had had to be diverted recently to handling antisemitism and prejudice; he hoped that we could soon return to focussing on the positive linkages between the two countries, which is what this event represented. The final speaker was Dr Ilya Kumets, who is a Cardiology Fellow at Barts Health NHS Trust, and who described the process of transfer – both formal and cultural - from the Israeli to the British system; and how he had gained so much from the experience.
Occupational therapist - Carmel Gat z”l
Carmel Gat - one of the six hostages whose murder was reported on 1st September - was an occupational therapist. The Hostages and Missing – Families Forum wrote to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Committee of the Red Cross condemning the murder. The full letter (which can be accessed here) was signed by the heads of Israeli Medical Schools and of Israeli Occupational Therapy organisations. In this letter the signatories called for action about three other healthcare professionals (one of whom is reported as dead but his body has not been retrieved yet) who are still missing.
International Federation of Medical Students Associations
In early August the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA) suspended the Israeli Medical Students Association (IMSA) from membership. Uniquely even in anti-Israel quarters it is unusual that the IFMSA refers to Hamas and Palestinian deaths on October 7th 2023 without reference to Israeli deaths. IFMSA meetings (and support) is provided by both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Medical Association (WMA). This decision can only be reversed by a two thirds majority. The IMSA have now formally lodged a complaint about the process whereby this decision was taken. A group of Jewish physicians and educators from different countries (including Prof David Katz) have written to the IFMSA to protest against this decision and their letter can be accessed here. British medical students were represented at IFMSA by an organisation called “Students for Global Health”, and the IMSA report that this group were strongly in support of suspension. This is being investigated further.
NHS England Antisemitism Education Courses
NHS England has organised several training courses about antisemitism which have been provided and run by the Antisemitism Policy Trust (APT). The latest of these attracted over 900 participants. Unfortunately, shortly before it took place a communication was sent out by a central London Trust saying that complaints had been received about the course. Staff were discouraged from attending. The JMA responded immediately, were in communication with Danny Stone of the APT, and Dr Fiona Sim and Prof David Katz wrote to the Chief Executive Dr Claire Murdoch:
An item featured in your Trust All Staff Weekly Bulletin of 2 September 2024 has been brought to our attention. Its content is of considerable concern to the Jewish Medical Association, as well as to Jewish medical and other staff working in CNWL NHS Foundation Trust. Whilst we have no interest in the provider of this training, the Antisemitism Policy Trust (APT), we are aware that this organisation has been carefully selected by NHSE, who have commissioned it to provide antisemitism training via Teams to anyone who works anywhere in the NHS.
The APT’s first two sessions, delivered for NHSE some months ago, were well-received by hundreds of NHS staff of all backgrounds and roles, leading NHSE to evaluate and then proceed to commission nationally an ongoing programme of training, to enable as many NHS staff as possible to learn about the often poorly understood, but vile, threat of antisemitism and to counter it. We very much welcomed the decision by NHSE to commission this training.
If CNWL has conducted a thorough review of available antisemitism training, guided by experts on antisemitism and training, which has led you to believe, as stated in your Bulletin, that “this training and its content is inappropriate”, we would ask you to share with us this information as a matter of urgency.
If, however, no such review has been undertaken, we would, respectfully, advise you that it is utterly inappropriate for the Trust to reach this conclusion and share it with all of your staff, thus effectively removing the opportunity for them to access this nationally commissioned training on an important topic, as well as casting aspersions on the provider of the training, who, it seems, was not advised by the Trust of its opinion prior to publishing it to all staff, nor given the opportunity to respond.
We trust that CNWL staff, along with all other NHS staff in England, will be offered the opportunity and also encouraged to attend this antisemitism training on 5 September, through the urgent reversal of this content of this Bulletin.
Dr Murdoch interrupted her holiday to clarify that the communication was an error:
“In the Weekly Bulletin that was sent out across the organisation on Monday (2 September), there was a note concerning Antisemitism training which is sponsored by NHSE and provided by the Antisemitism Policy Trust. I want to apologise for the communication which did not go through our usual sign off processes. I have asked that colleagues look into how such a message was communicated in error and we will get to the bottom of it.
There are a few things that I want to say to you all about what is written here. CNWL is supporting and advocating that staff who were planning to attend the NHSE-sponsored training, which is scheduled for tomorrow (5 September) are still encouraged to do so”.
Medical Examiner and Death Certification
The Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) (the College responsible for training medical examiners) held a reception on 5th September to mark the forthcoming long-anticipated statutory medical examiner launch on 9th September. The guidance document for this can be accessed at https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/national-medical-examiners-guidance-for-england-and-wales/
The Jewish community was represented at the reception by Prof David Katz and Mr Sidney Sinitsky. The event was chaired by the RCPath lead on the subject, Dr Suzy Lishman. The Chief Medical Examiner, Dr Alan Fletcher spoke, Sir Robert Francis summarised the progress that had been made, and Mr Mohammed Omer spoke on behalf of the Muslim community.
Prof Katz also spoke, saying that today “cultural competencies” are regarded as desirable if not mandatory in public dialogue. The UK Government excelled themselves in this instance, as the launch date is during the week “Ki Tayzay”: “thou shall surely bury him the same day” (Deuteronomy
21:23). This rule is applicable to those that die by hanging; Nachmanides’ highlights “if you do so for a wrongdoer, how much more for all others”. However, this is not the first mention of death and burial: Abraham purchased land to bury Sarah; Rachel’s death and burial is described; as is Jacob’s death; and the transfer of Joseph’s remains all indicate the significance of the question. Hence issues of death and burial rank very highly in the religious freedoms that Jews have requested and required from host societies. The UK Jewish community traditions in this regard have been broadly tolerated if sometimes misunderstood. This question unites the Board of Deputies and the more strictly observant groups even though they may differ in other respects, and the Jewish burial societies (“chevrot kadisha”) work hard to maintain both religious and legal standards.
He said that “the 1970s Coroner Reform and the Broderip Report may seem to some as remote as Biblical narratives”. But he has worked for over 25 years with Eleanor Platt KC (Family Law) and David Frei (Beth Din Registrar) scrutinising and responding to such documents including those from Dame Janet Smith and Sir Robert Francis. The pilot medical examiner studies done by Dr Adrian Tookman demonstrated that - with good will - feasibility is possible without causing undue delay”.
His view was that in celebrating the launch the Jewish community needs to look forward rather than backward. “We need to play a role not only for our own community but also for other faith and ethnic groups. We need to promote the concept outlined by Sir Bruce Keogh – that failing healthcare systems are those that do not scrutinise and analyse deaths properly. It is impossible to do this without resources – not only staff, but also staff education and training (in which the RCPath is making a critical contribution), facilities to develop new techniques, and initiatives ranging from electronic death certification to scanners and molecular laboratory analysis. Failing systems are bad for all patients. They do not discriminate. Furthermore, in Judaism handling death is not only a matter of a dead body. It is a bereaved family who have traditions and practices that at time of distress need to be respected and honoured. This, too, is common to all”.
He noted that “several Jewish doctors have undergone the medical examiner training and will be sharing the responsibility. Alan Fletcher and the London Chief Examiner, Mette Rodgers, and their staff, took the buzzwords “consultation”, “task and finish” and “cultural competency” seriously; and Sidney’s son Moshe Sinitsky has played an important role in Manchester. Looking ahead there are signs that properly trained staffing to meet the needs of the Jewish – and Muslim – community may be in short supply, as are imagers, pathologists and counsellors. Resourcing – funding – is crucial. Going out more into the community, and the interface between primary and secondary care, will present new challenges. But Jewish principles - of investigating how and why death occurs to learn lessons which help to prevent future illness and possibly death, and of supporting bereaved families – are the shared major objectives. Thus, 9th September 2024 is an important milestone”.
To coincide with this launch, revised guidance about Medical Certificates of Cause of Death (MCCD) in England and Wales were published on the same day. These include some of the changes introduced during the pandemic and found to be useful. The main feature of note is that the “28 day” rule (about when the deceased last saw a doctor) has been abolished. Now the MCCD does not need to be from a medical practitioner who has seen the patient in the past 28 days but has to be someone (i) who has cared for the patient; (ii) who is familiar with the patient’s medical history, investigations and treatments; and (iii) who has access to relevant medical records and the results of investigations. In hospitals the final responsibility lies with the consultant in charge of the patient’s care. Guidance for medical practitioners completing medical certificates of cause of death in England and Wales - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
WONCA Europe - World Organization of Family Doctors
Pro-Palestinian medical groups in the UK and Eire are proposing a motion to expel Israel from WONCA membership at a conference in Dublin in September 2024. Dr Fiona Sim and Dr Charlotte Benjamin wrote to the President of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) seeking reassurance that the College would not be supporting this proposal. The response was that the RCGP do not support calls for removal of any professional organisation representing GPs, family doctors or other health professionals from participating in international events and networks as they are not responsible for the actions and decisions of their respective governments.
General Medical Council
One of the high-profile cases reported to the GMC since 7 October 2023 was Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah. The GMC took his case to a Medical Practitioner Tribunal Service (MPTS) Interim Orders Panel. The Panel did not make such an order. Unusually his defence asked to be able to release information about the case even though the actual determination had not been released. This defence statement too attracted wide media publicity. The JMA wrote to the GMC about this and were informed that the doctor continues to be under investigation with a view to a full MPTS hearing.
Dr Lionel Balfour – Lynn z”l
Sadly, Dr Lionel Balfour – Lynn, who was a stalwart in the British Friends of the Israeli Medical Association (one of the two major forerunner organisations of the Jewish Medical Association (UK), has died at the age of 97.
Dr Mervyn Jaswon, who was a fellow paediatrician and worked closely with him on the scholarship scheme, wrote:
Lionel qualified in medicine from Cambridge and Guys Hospital and subsequently trained as a paediatrician. He was an Honorary Consultant at the Hammersmith Hospital where he conducted a longitudinal study on growth in asthmatic children which showed that their asthma had no effect on their final height, but caused a delay in puberty which gave the impression of short stature as their pubertal growth spurt was delayed. This study published in Archives Diseases of Childhood in 1986 was a seminal and much quoted paper. Lionel was also paediatrician to the American Hospital in Hillingdon in addition to running a thriving private practice in Central London.
Lionel was a passionate Zionist and as his surname indicates he came from a Zionist family. He was a founder member of the BFIMA, and introduced its elective bursary scheme. He would write to the Deans of the UK medical schools each year to publicise this scheme whereby students of all creeds could apply to spend their elective at a recognised Israeli medical establishment. Lionel would vet the applications and arrange the bursaries. Over the years several hundred UK students would have benefited, as would Anglo-Israel relations.
We know that infectious diseases do not recognise boundaries and wars. The continuing need for robust effective vaccination policies is critical, and recent reports about poliovirus in Gaza are disturbing. A group of eminent Israeli health policy and public health experts, alarmed by the threat of a polio outbreak, wrote an article to the effect that ceasefire is not only to end violence but also to prevent disease: Cease-fire. The Only Way to Prevent a Polio Epidemic Among Gazan and Israeli Babies.
Equality, diversity and inclusion policies play a role in healthcare settings. Whether they take into account and affect Jews (and Muslims) is often neglected and was discussed in JAMA: The Evolving Role of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs in Academic Health Institutions.
The US Office of the Special Envoy To Monitor and Combat Antisemitism (Prof Deborah Lipstadt) has issued “Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism”, which was launched to coincide with commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the bombing of a Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires. As of 23rd July 2024 these guidelines have been endorsed by over 30 countries, and by the Council of Europe and Organisation of American States. Both Israel (Michal Cotler-Wunsh, Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism) and the UK (Lord Eric Pickles, UK Government Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues) have endorsed it. The full text can be accessed here.
Violence against women, Prof Ruth Halperin – Kaddari, and the Dinah project
There has been some controversy about the issue of violence against women during the war which started on October 7th 2023.
For the Times supplement about this violence on Saturday 8th June 2024 Prof Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, who gave an outstanding webinar on the subject to the JMA in March 2024, was quoted as the most highly respected Israeli expert on this.
You can access her JMA talk here.
In her talk Prof Halperin-Kaddari referred to the Dinah Project 7/10. More information about this project can be accessed here.
You can also see her specific response to the Times article:
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Psychological Trauma post 7th October 2023
Following the recent IMA international webinar on 28th May , their next such event will take place on 18th July. Advance details are on the flyer. Further information will be announced shortly.
Israeli Medicine: A story of Inspiration
IMA arranged a webinar on this theme which took place on May 28th, 2024”.
The video recording of this session can be accessed here.
The Lancet published an article by Dehghan et al several months back. Some of the authors of that article have called previously for “decolonisation” as a solution to the current conflict.
Three responses to this have been published - eventually.
One of these is from several members of the JMA: ”Duty and advocacy for Palestine: Jewish doctors’ response” by Nadel et al – which can be accessed here.
The other two are from an American group: “Hypocrisy of moral imperatives in the Israel–Hamas war” by Roth et al – which can be accessed here; and from an international group: “When medical duty and advocacy are one-sided, both sides suffer” by Katz et al – which can be accessed here.
These three items remain very relevant to public debate.
The Lancet Commission Report on Medicine, Nazism and the Holocaust was published in November 2023, in the immediate aftermath of the Hamas massacre of 7th October 2023. In an article published in the Israeli Journal for Healthcare Policy Research two of the authors of that report (Reis and Wald) say that it has striking relevance to ongoing discussions about current events.
The authors regard the massacre as a crime against humanity including genocide. For Israel self-defence is a legitimate objective. The use of one’s own civilians as human shields, including in health facilities, and at the same time causing immense ongoing suffering in Israel, is unacceptable. They deplore that (with some exceptions) the medical literature has not condemned Hamas’ atrocities and has criticised the Israeli military. This has been followed by a surge of antisemitism, and the Report asserts that healthcare professionals have a special responsibility to combat this as well as other forms of discrimination. This requires issues of antisemitism and religious discrimination to be included within all EDI programmes, including those on campus; and with this an evidence-based approach to 7th October and its aftermath. The relevance of this must be seen by healthcare professional not only within medicine but also within global citizenship. International community accusations and anti-Israel libels need to be refuted.
The authors conclude by reviewing the report’s implications for contemporary medicine in general. They assert that four approaches are required: 1) provision of skills required to detect and prevent crimes against humanity and genocide; (2) care for victims of atrocities; (3) upholding the healing ethos central to the practice of medicine; and (4) fostering history-informed morally courageous health professionals who speak up when necessary.
The full article can be accessed here.
Soroka Hospital published an article on their experience on the frontline on October 7th 2023. This article can be accessed here.
Strous and Modovich (from Mayanei Hayeshua) published an article on the ethics of psychiatric management in time of disaster and war based upon October 7th. This article can be accessed here.
In early November 2023 there was extensive media coverage of the WHO Director – General’s call for cessation of hostilities between Israel and Gaza. The Lancet praised his comments for moral clarity, and a group of senior Israeli academics and physicians responded to this. Their letter can be accessed here.
The International Journal of Public Health has published a report that delves into the rapid medical response spearheaded by Israel’s civilian Emergency Medical Service, Magen David Adom (MDA), during the crisis of October 7th 2023. The authors are from the MDA itself and from Emergency Medicine and Public Health Departments at Ben Gurion University. The report can be accessed here.
Proportionality in war - two eminent Israeli physicians comment
There has been much discussion about what is a proportionate response in war and an important contribution on this topic was made in the House of Lords by Lord Verdirame in October 2023.
This topic continues to be discussed. In a blog on 25th January two distinguished Israeli medical academics, Prof Shimon Glick and Prof Mark Clarfield have put forward their views how to approach it. Their blog can be accessed here.