This is a crazy story that does not make much sense to me.
Channel 2 news reported the other day that a 30 year old woman could not get a D&C performed to remove a dead fetus from her womb. She was sent home and told to return the next day. The reason given to her, minutes before the anesthesia was to be applied, was that the operating room did not have a small vestibule in front, and removing the fetus at that time would therefore cause a problem for any kohanim in the hospital. This happened in Assuta Hospital in Tel Aviv.
A hospital worker said that the rav of the hospital is very strict about these things and is regularly walking around the hospital making sure things are done properly.
Other surgery rooms in the hospital have systems in place to deal with the impurity and ensure no problems for kohanim.
The hospital publicized that in order to respect all the different types of people who come and use the services, the hospital is committed to protecting the rules of tahara for kohanim. Therefore, D&Cs are done according to halacha and in a special area, so kohanim can walk freely in the hospital. The hospital also said regarding this specific case that it was a mistake in scheduling that caused the problem, with the wrong surgery room being arranged for the procedure. When the mistake was discovered, the patient was told to come back the next day for the procedure, and at no time was she ever in any health danger.
It happens to be that I was in Assuta this week a couple of times to accompany and visit someone who was there to have a surgery. I asked a couple nurses if the story was accurate as reported. The nurses I spoke had heard that something happened, but they only heard it because there had been a news story on the television about it. They did not know any "inside" info, and could not confirm or deny the details. I knew more than they did, and all I had done was read the Channel 2 News article.
It is good that they take halacha into their procedural considerations, but I feel bad for the patient who had to suffer because of it. Even without any danger to her health, it must have been difficult and even traumatic for her to prepare for a fetus removal and then be told to come back the next day.
------------------------------------------------------
Reach thousands of readers with your ad by advertising on Life in Israel
------------------------------------------------------
