"In favor of vaccines - but there is room for discretion" Israel today

The Ethics Bureau of the Medical Federation tends to oppose the new legislation, which will allow the transfer of immunization data to various bodies, including local authorities and the education system

• Corona vaccine in Israel // Photo: Oren Ben Hakon

The Ethics Bureau of the Medical Association will hold a special discussion next week on the law that has been approved, according to which information about those who have not been vaccinated will be passed on to local authorities, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Welfare for "encouraging vaccination."

The bureau supports the position of Prof. Davidovich, chairman of the Association of Public Health Physicians, who said: "This is hasty legislation that may infringe on the rights of the individual, will not significantly contribute to the goal of immunization and will even harm.

"In its place, parallel channels should be operated, with the medical professional bodies maintaining confidentiality and providing a professional answer to medical questions and questions about safety and efficacy, and local authorities work to promote immunization at the local level without harming the trust and confidentiality of residents."

The Ethics Bureau will also discuss the initiative to enact a law that will require employees in certain professions to be vaccinated or work remotely and a ban on entering events for those who have not been vaccinated under the "green mark."

And the initiative should also give a financial incentive to doctors who will encourage patients to be vaccinated against corona.

"I and all the members of the Ethics Bureau are in favor of vaccines, but on the other hand, we must give weight to a person's judgment and autonomy. People should not be forced to get vaccinated," says Prof. Tami Karni, chairman of the Ethics Bureau.

"Most of the time we discuss issues related to medical ethics, but following the discourse in society as a whole and between us doctors there has been a request to discuss these bills as well. The atmosphere today is that out of fear there is utilitarian ethics - what steps can be taken to prevent disease "The question is whether it is possible through various and strange sanctions to encourage immunization and to what extent you are violating the freedoms of the individual. To what extent are the Patient's Rights and Achievements Law waived?"

On the plan presented by Corona projector Prof. Ash at one of the government meetings that doctors will receive a financial incentive to encourage immunization, Prof. Karni said "things should not be intertwined. What is the next thing? Convincing a diabetic to get insulin? Part of a doctor's job is The economic incentive is irrelevant. I congratulate Prof. Ash who found a way to encourage the doctors but should encourage all the doctors who worked in the corona units in the war of attrition we are in and every doctor should be allowed to receive mental support as part of the working conditions. It could hurt public confidence in the doctor's recommendations. "

Hadas Ziv, VP of Ethics at Physicians for Human Rights, responded: "The Knesset of Israel today carried out a dangerous abduction, passing a dragon law that violates medical ethics and the Patient Rights Law, and whose consequences could be disastrous.

The transfer of medical information to local authorities and the Ministry of Education will damage the great trust that citizens have in the health funds, to the point of avoiding the provision of essential information for treatment.

Local authorities have the power to reach the public through effective information and positive incentives without disclosing medical information.

HMOs must be given the time and means to reach patients in a way that will not harm them and in the trust between therapist and patient.

We expect the health community to refuse to obey the law and protect their patients. "