With the release of the Gross boys from Schneider Children’s Hospital on Monday, Rabbi Benny Fischer of Magen L’Choleh spoke with Kol Berama Radio host Mordechai Lavi.
When he was interviewed back in January 2014, shortly after the tragic events that occurred to the Gross family, Rabbi Fischer lashed out against Terem and blamed the private emergency clinic for failing to treat the children properly. He felt the outcome would have been far less severe if doctors were attentive and did their jobs as they should have.
In the latest interview, Rav Fischer points out that first and foremost the entire incident teaches us that HKBH runs the world and events, and in the case of the Gross boys no one believed the day would come when they walk out on their own in good health.
In the 23 minute interview Rabbi Fischer was asked how it is that nothing is being done against Terem, to which he explained one can ask the very same question about many other institutions and directors, for the failures are widespread. He had words of praise for Shaare Zedek Medical Center, for its handling of the critical patients and overall dealing with the case. He feels that at the very least, in institutions with such obvious failures as seen here with Terem, one would expect those responsible to step down and in extreme cases, one might even expect to see people behind bars, but this does not occur he explained.
He feels that the police and Ministry of Health should be answering the difficult question posed regarding Terem and accepting responsibility.
He added “If a chareidi was at the leadership of Terem one can only imagine what the response would have been”. He states the same regarding the previous administration of Hadassah Hospital explaining in these cases “there are no chareidim and no kippot and that is why [nothing is done]”.
“I would not go to Terem for a headache or any case under any situation no matter where in Israel. For a bad headache one must go to an emergency room why appropriate neurological care is available. If it occurs in Jerusalem, Hadassah in the address for there is no other facility with neurological services.”
Fischer believes the Gross parents did tell the Terem doctors about the exterminator as they insisted all along, but Terem continues to deny this. He added one only has to see the parents and one realizes they are telling the truth and Terem is not.
“When a Terem doctors sees an entire family arrives at night with certain signs and symptoms he must understand that something out of the ordinary occurred. He should have sent them to an emergency room.”
Fischer concludes by pointing to the entire incident was just like the Chazon Ish said, “לפני מעשה – בידי אדם, לאחר מעשה – בידי שמים”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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13 Responses
with all due respect to Rabbi Fischer – heads of hospitals dont treat patients – physicians do. And the last I looked there are very few Chareidi physicians as for the most part the higher education that is required to become a doctor is frowned upon in the Chareidi world. Btw there are plenty of excellent caring physicians who are not religious and not even Jewish. I seem to recall that when Rav Elyashiv ZTL needed cardiac surgery, a non jewish surgeon from the Cleveland Clinic was brought in. To blame an entire system on 1 tragic case is really wrong. I am sure that mistakes unfortunately are made even in the institutions that Rabbi Fischer sings the praises of.
Except it doesn’t seem to be one case. A very close family member of mine, well known in the neighborhood was left permanently severely brain damaged.
Similar story, went to Terem at night with a headache, Terem said its nothing, mother says he’s turning blueish. Terem says its nothing, releases him.
He didn’t make it out the door before losing consciousness. In Hadasah that night a tumor was removed from his brain, he never came back conscious.
Had he gotten oxygen right away would things be different today? We will never know, but that Terem seriously misdiagnosed and mistreated him is clear. They offered a measly compensation that doesn’t even cover a year of the costs today.
To rkefrat you completely missed the boat you e did not understand what Rabbi Fisher was saying he’s not talking about that doctors he’s talking about the head of the hospital or the clinics if they will be a chardi in charge of that terem clinic he will be in big trouble and no one deny that the art non-religion excellent and great doctors but this is not the issue over here The point he is trying to make is that when at Chardi is in charge head get chopped off if there is any miss treating which is not the case when a non-religion is in charge get it?
To ybc I dont follow you, there is a huge difference between mistreating and misdiagnosing. Having worked 19 years in emergency medicine I can tell you that under the human condition mistakes happen – mistreatment is another story, that should never happen. what exactly happened that night at terem we may never know – but I dont believe that a doctor would knowingly discharge a pt who he believed to be seriously ill. misdiagnose or not putting all of the pieces together maybe but what Rabbi Fischer is insinuating is a gross disregard for life. that i cannot accept.
Why must we always try to find someone or something to blame? Where’s your emuna, people? Hashem runs the world. Only HE cures the sick. This tragedy occurred because HE wanted it to occur. Michael and Yitzchak were cured because HE cured them. Period. End of story.
people aren’t going to stop going to terem. the emergency rooms take forever for the patient to be seen and taken care of. I am so sorry for the tradgedy that happened to the gross family, but we can’t blame the whole terem system.
lkwdmama – you raise a good point. In the same article he points out Hashem runs the world by the fact Hashem saved the 2 sons yet blames the death of the 2 girls entirely on Terem. If we truly believe then we must admit as painful as it is that Hashem decided they had to die.
Thank G-d I’ve never had to go to Terem for anything life threatening, however I often find it nicer than going to the kupah cholim, despite the long wait during peak hours and the copay. You’re much more likely to find a friendly anglo doctor there than the cold uncaring russians with hard to understand accents that populate the clinics. I’ll take a native English speaking western trained (and usually frum) doctor over that any day.
May the Gross family only hear good news.
rkefrat:
Are you illiterate?
What in the world does your comment have to do with this article?
BENNY FISCHER IS RIGHT!
Just last week an uncle of ours went to Terem twice with heart pressure and they sent him home. He had a massive heart attack two days later and mazal that he’s alive.
Your focus on bashing chareidim would be obvious by that “efrat” word in your name. Talking about chareidim using a govt….. I’ve never seen bigger kafoi tov than the zionist religious right in israel. Whenever they’re in need the chareidi world comes to their assistance but when it comes to the need of the chareidim you pple throw it all back into their faces. Fact of the matter: Noone in the israeli govt… or any of it’s funded organizations like the medical system. Goes beyond the call of duty. They do their job and go home. This is something most can tell you and one of those hard things americans need to adjust to in israel. It is although absolutely true that had chareidim been doctors then the system would’ve been a lot more sympathetic and real cus they focus on hashem and the mitzva of saving a jew. Where as you zionists are jews of compromise.
Noone is blaming anyone for nothing. Remember, a couple lost two of their precious children. They took the precautions and went to Terem and were sent home with acamol. I would think that anyone that would have such a tragedy occur would think twice about criticizing the critics or the messengers of death in this case.
terem were clearly messengers of death. weather they like it or not. I have never felt more uncomfortable with the medical system in israel like I do now. There are thousands of stories each day of what pple go through with the system.
To lkwdmama, and all others who think that Benny Fisher is out there to put the blame on someone:
He is warning us!!
I for one experienced the treatment in Terem. It is horrific and scary to see people, expecially sick ones being treated that way.
Last month when i walked in dehydrated doubled over, they would not treat me with IV untill i paid a fee of 500 shekel, since it was in middle of the day and they are non-emergency than.
Well i gave them every last shekel i had and told them they must treat me or…..
It is a horrific place, and all should stand clear of.
Enjoy doctor Shanik, you dont realize what you take for granted.
lkwdmama that’s called burying your head in the sand. Terem is not the place to go to. The place is full of Arabs. My husband cut his finger pretty badly a few yrs ago the guy only stitched up 1 of the cuts. He didn’t even notice that there were 2 cuts that needed stitching up. My husband has a scar which will probably stay for life now. Thanks Terem.
Lakewood Mama:
This was the point of Rav Fisher’s final quote:
“לפני מעשה – בידי אדם, לאחר מעשה – בידי שמים”
Human intervention should have been there to the utmost BEFORE the final tragedy occurred. I’m nowhere near being a physician, but plain common sense mandates that if an entire family comes in together with a common ailment, you don’t just dismiss them back home with Akomol (Israeli Tylenol).
And just BTW to clarify, I heard that interview yesterday on the radio, and Rav Fisher quoted his rebbe Rav Shlomo Zalman zt”l, and it was not the Chazon Ish.
first of all. a person should go to terem for something like a cut finger not poisioning. If in fact the parents knew this was caused by the exterminator and all the kids had similar symptoms, then this a job for the ER not terem. Now that being said, I do agree that Terem dropped the ball here and should have sent them to the ER. but also the parents shouldnt have gone home if they felt the children were getting worse, they should have then gone to the ER/ IMHO Not trying to judge CV just trying to shed light on the subject. Terem is for little things that you dont want to wait in the ER for.