A court has ordered the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute will compensate two families a total of NIS 550,000 in compensation for removing organs from their loved ones without authorization. Over 8,000 body parts were discovered in the institute back in 2012 leading to a probe and the discovery that all too often, then chief pathologist Dr. Yehuda Hiss did has he pleased, ignoring instructions not to permit an autopsy to removing organs and not returning them for burial. Health Minister Yaakov Litzman was instrumental in ousting Hiss, who was accused of illegal activities for years, accusations that were ignored by Litzman’s predecessors. When Litzman acted to oust Hiss he was serving as the deputy health minister with ministerial authority.

In one case a second levaya was held and the agmas nefesh led to the mom being classified as having limited mental capacity of 30% following a break down. This family was awarded NIS 400,000.

In case two involving the body of a 2005 murder suspect, whose vital organs were removed and stored at Abu Kabir without authorization, the family was awarded NIS 150,000.

It is likely that additional cases or a class action legal action will follow at a future date.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)