Parents of children admitted to the hemo-oncology unit have sent a harshly-worded letter to President Reuven Rivlin informing the president they are launching a hunger strike, explaining that have changed their minds and are unwilling to abide by the comprise reached by him. “They are advancing politically on our backs” the parents accuse while Health Ministry officials announce a willingness to enter into direct talks. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday, 1 Tammuz, called on the doctors to return to their previous posts and use the interim period to reach an agreement “for the good of the children”.

The children are admitted to the bone-marrow unit at Hadassah Ein Kerem. The dispute surrounds the hospital decision to close the pediatric unit and incorporate it into the adult unit. The doctors who resigned insist this is being done at the expense of the care to the children, citing the unit it too specialized to be a part of the adult unit. Hospital officials maintain the care is what it must be and they would never compromise the care of the children or any patient.

The hospital enjoys the backing of the Health Ministry, with Minister Yaakov Litzman standing firmly behind Hadassah Director-General Prof. Ze’ev Rothstein.

Shaare Zedek Hospital signaled it would open the pediatric unit, but Litzman was quick to announce he would not permit this to happen. The parents, who side with the doctors who resign, are now stepping up their battle by announcing the hunger strike, citing there is no justification for preventing the opening of the unit at Shaare Zedek, adding for if not, there is no pediatric unit in the capital. The parents add the area is extremely specialize, and there are only about 40 qualified physicians in the entire country today.

Attorney Eliad Shraga, who represents the parents, has taken the case to the High Court on their behalf. The case is on the court’s docket for Wednesday, 4 Tammuz.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)