Just this past Shabbos former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon marked his 81st birthday, still in a coma in the rehabilitation wing of Tel Hashomer Hospital in Tel Aviv.
The Ometz Organization has respectfully raised the issue of moving the former prime minister to another locale which is capable of providing the care he requires, thereby freeing three rooms, which are desperately needed by others.
Ometz head Aryeh Avneri spoke to Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) on Sunday, seeking to address this most sensitive issue with the utmost of respect, stating that while Mr. Sharon is a former prime minister, he is at a stage where doctors and the rehabilitation team can no longer offer him anything that he cannot receive in another facility, and moving him would vacate three rooms. Avneri explained that understandably, the double room which is occupied by the former prime minister is given to him alone. He adds the adjoining room has been converted into a full office for Sharon’s son Gilad and another room is also used due to family visits and security considerations.
Avneri carefully worded his comments, stating repeatedly he does not wish to offend anyone, but his organization has received requests from families of patients requiring therapy and they are seeking to see if the rooms occupied by Sharon can be made available to others. He further stated there are only 17 beds and many more that number waiting for a therapy bed.
Avneri stated his investigation revealed that hospital officials have entered into talks with members of the family, unrelated to his inquiry, informing them there is nothing more Tel Hashomer can do – adding it is time to move Mr. Sharon elsewhere. The issue of the office maintained by Gilad Sharon was ignored by hospital officials he added.
As a result, on Thursday, Ometz turned to the Ministry of Health and asked what is going to be done, explaining that even for a former prime minister, the correct decision must be made, reminding the ministry officials that the hospital is a government hospital and many patients await rehabilitation beds.
“The matter is extremely sensitive and many people do not wish to even address it for obvious reasons”.
Avneri stated that first of all, the office must be evacuated and the room returned to the hospital for use for waiting patients. He explained the needs of Gilad Sharon are not relevant to the decision-making process. “It seems that the ministry is also seeking to avoid the issue. That is the way it looks. They seem to prefer throwing it to the hospital to address”.
Responding to the statements, angrily, was Tel Hashomer’s Prof. Ze’ev Rothstein, who attacked Avneri’s cynical attack as a “birthday gift” for the former national leader.
Rothstein stated Avneri’s facts are not accurate, accusing him of untruths. Rothstein first of all adamantly denied that Gilad Sharon or any Sharon family member has taken over a room and converted it into an office, insisting this is simply not so. He also denied a second room was taken over for security or any other considerations. He did admit that the second bed in Sharon’s room was removed, stating there is no attempt to cover this up, insisting this is the proper way of dealing with a former prime minister.
The hospital director added that next month, the staff will once again meet and reevaluate the Sharon case and if it is decided that the level of care that he demands can be given elsewhere, then and only ten will moving him be discussed as an option.
Prof. Rothstein stated that at present, the former prime minister remains connected to life support equipment and requires round-the-clock medical and support care and he cannot just be moved without first evaluating the situation and the ability of duplicating the current arrangements to another location.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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One Response
I do not understand if the former Prime Minister is so Ill and connected to Life Support, how can you consider moving him to another hospital at this time. To move him right now is very risky and dangerous. I realize the shortage of hospital beds in EY, you would think the former Prime Minister has special needs and rights because of his status. I do not understand why Professor Rothstein would agree to this, some pertinent information is being withheld.