Following the suicide cases: Litzman has ordered a suicide investigation committee in Soroka

The committee is expected to offer an outline for further intervention in mental health issues among faculty members and ways to prevent it. Medical staff at the hospital protested following the rush: "We have come to care, not to give up our lives." Soroka: "We will cooperate fully with the Commission"

Following the suicide cases: Litzman has ordered a suicide investigation committee in Soroka

Minister of Health Yaakov Litzman appointed this evening (Sunday) together with Clalit Health Services and a public committee to examine the four suicide cases at Soroka Hospital in Beer Sheva. This is in the wake of yesterday's suicide of an intern in a hospital - the fourth case in a year and a half.

"The public committee will offer an outline for further intervention in mental health issues among faculty members, and ways to prevent it," the minister said. "Unfortunately, this is a recognized phenomenon in the health system in Israel and around the world, and we hope the entire system will improve the ways of intervention as a result of the committee's work." The commission will begin its work in the coming days and will be headed by retired District Court Judge Nava Ben-Or. The committee will be chaired by the National Council for Loss Prevention and the director of the Geha Mental Health Center, Prof. Gil Salzman, and the Ministry of Health's representative, Chief Psychologist Gabi Peretz.

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Meets the requirements. Litzman (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)

Jacob Litzman at a Cabinet Meeting, January 19, 2020 (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky, Paul Photographers)

The hospital's medical staff today demanded the establishment of an independent investigative committee to investigate suicides at the medical center. Chairman of the Prescription Internship Organization, Dr. Ray Beaton, emphasized that the deaths of the four are not accidental. She said, "To say that there is no connection between the cases is ridiculous. When there are four doctors who commit suicide one after the other, it has to be demanding.

Dr. Beaton warned that "We have been warning about the catastrophe in Soroka quite some time. The inscription was on the wall. Get a glimpse here of the collapsing health system. There's the extremity of what's going on here. In Soroka sorting during the night we can see three interns who are supposed to cater for such a large population. Hence the big loads. "

One of the doctors described the difficulties experienced by the medical staff following the workload. "There are specialists here and doctors who work 26 continuously, from Rehovot to Eilat. There is one hospital that handles everything," he said. "The burden is huge, the pressure is great. Those who come to study medicine come to help the patient, but here in Soroka we do not have the conditions for it. The burden is decisive and increases in human life and also harms the lives of doctors and specialists."

Another doctor added: "We have come to work, we have come to care, we all have dreams of saving lives. We are not supposed to give up our lives and find ourselves in a field of war."

Doctors in Soroka demand a commission of inquiry: "We have come to treat, not to abandon our lives"

Soroka: "The issue is at the top of our minds"

Soroka Hospital is said to be fully cooperating with the committee set up. "The hospital management supports the establishment of the committee, fully cooperates with its work and provides all the information it needs to complete its work," the hospital statement said.

They added that "Soroka Medical Center expresses its deep sorrow over the passing of tragic circumstances of a medical staff member last night. The hospital's director, Dr. Shlomi Kodesh, convened the hospital staff during the day, stressing to them the importance of treating mental illness among all staff , Heard from them impressions and feelings, also following the recent case, and listed the various options available to all faculty for psychic help. "

According to Dr. Kodesh, the issue is at the top of his mind. "Soroka Medical Center is a leading medical center, with thousands of its employees being a strong, united and supportive family. Suicide is a tragic and difficult event for a person, his family and the circles around him. We will do everything we can to provide our members with all the assistance they need. "

"The inscription was on the wall." Doctors and specialists in Soroka, today (Photo: Yanir Yagna)

Doctors and Suroka Hospital Specialists Congregate in Hospital in Protest of Fourth Doctor's Suicide, Beer Sheva, January 26, 2020 (Photo: Yanir Yagna)

The chairman of the Medical Association, Prof. Zion Hagai, welcomed the decision of the Minister of Health to establish the committee. However, we and all relevant health system officials must take the full seriousness of the difficult working conditions of the medical staff in Israel and the periphery in particular. The burdens, the lack of standards, the crowding, the violence - all of these produce burnout and pressure cooker that certainly do not contribute to their routine. We warn of it at every opportunity and we will continue to struggle with all the means at our disposal to put an end to this hardship. "

"We will do everything we can to provide our members with all the assistance they need." Soroka (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Soroka Medical Center, Beer Sheva (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Bridge chairman MK Orly Levi Abaxis said in response to the establishment of the committee that "I hope that the committee members will objectively review the situation on the ground and make recommendations to improve the terrible situation in the system. And I applaud that the Minister of Health has listened to my demands and acted in a proper manner. "

The rate of suicide among physicians is highest compared to all other professionals. In the United States, on average, a physician commits suicide daily, approximately 400 physicians per year, and the number of suicides among physicians is double the number of suicides in the general population.

In situations of distress, there are those who listen:
Eran - Mental First Aid - 1201
"For Life" Association - Assistance to Families whose loved ones committed suicide: 03-9640222
Crescent - Network Assistance and Listening

(First Update: 19:17)