The pain of losing a child r”l is one that can only be understood by one who has been compelled to face such a test, but knowing a physician may have failed to give a child every possible chance can only serve to compound the anguish.
As the reports regarding MDA MICU physician Dr. Radmir Rach began to mount, he was summoned by senior commanders to explain his version of the events. There are conflicting versions of just what took place, but the one carried in the daily Yediot Achronot states the doctor informed MDA supervisors that he does not wish to continue where he is not wanted, and he submitted his resignation.
Other reports lean more towards the reality that Rach realized he is going to be terminated, and opted to quit, preempting the move. Statements from paramedics operating on the scene in Ramat Eshkol, seeking to save 3-year-old Rachel Sofer a”h, indicate the doctor ignored protocol, prudent judgment, and their demands to continue with advanced resuscitation efforts. Baruch Hashem another paramedic unit arrived on the scene, and therefore, the rescuer, Menashe Kalifa, 41, is still alive and fighting for his life.
Rach was summoned before Dr. Tzvi Feinberg, MDA’s medical director, to explain the events of the call. It is reported that he announced his resignation and left “with tears in his eyes”.
Jerusalem MDA spokesman Daniel Rotenberg, who announced his resignation over the case as well, because in his words “he was not kept in the loop” has since retracted his resignation. MDA has accepted the doctor’s resignation with officials adding the inquiry into the call continues.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
4 Responses
i dont understand something– why should a doctor under any circumstances give an order to stop trying to resusiate the child?? Who knows? maybe they could have saved her?
If i remember correctly a similar thing happened recently too and the continued to resusiate the person and he is ok today? Whats happening to this world?/
For how long are they supposed to keep trying? It is normal protocol for a Dr to give orders to stop CPR and declare a person dead. (in fact only a dr can do this not a paramedic) There are guidelines for how long a person must continue CPR and when he may stop (both in MDA and in Halacha).
Sometimes people come back and sometimes they don’t. Just because CPR is administered does not mean that the person will regain his pulse and live.
That being said, I was not at the scene and do not know what this dr did or did not do that may have gone against protocol.
” It is reported that he announced his resignation and left “with tears in his eyes”.”
But when he pronounced the death on a 3 year old chid in front of her parents eyes, there were NO tears in his eyes…I can attest to that….
zionflag:
Why is that ridicules ? There are a lot of people out there that are bad. I can say that I know of cases in the US where EMS personal let patients die over pride and their self interests in keeping their jobs.