Last update - 00:00 09/01/2007
Panel of physicians to scrutinize premier's health
By Gideon Alon, Haaretz Correspondent
The Prime Minister's Office is formulating rules and regulations for handling issues relating to the health of the Prime Minister, such as reporting on his condition.
The legal adviser to the Prime Minister's Office, attorney Shulamit Barnea, announced at a meeting of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee Monday that a proposal to form an advisory committee of independent medical experts to advise the PM on personal health issues is in the pipeline. The proposal comes in light of former prime minister Ariel Sharon's stroke.
The panel will also advise the Prime Minister on the appropriate way to inform the public about his health.
A senior physician will also be assigned to monitor the Prime Minister's health.
Barnea added that the regulations will be finalized within two months and will be brought before Attorney General Menachem Mazuz for approval.
The committee rejected, in a six to four vote, a proposal by former Health Minister, Dan Naveh (Likud) that every candidate for prime minister publish a medical report 30 days prior to elections.
Naveh also proposed that the prime minister be obliged to undergo an annual physical exam and release the report.