Last update - 00:00 13/12/2007
Ministry orders probe into deaths of seven mental institution patients
By Ruth Sinai, Haaretz Correspondent
The Ministry of Social Affairs has ordered a committee to investigate serious complaints against the country's largest home for the mentally disabled, including the deaths of seven patients this year that were never probed.
The complaints against the Neve Menashe Home for the Mentally Disabled include accusations of violence and improper conduct toward dependents.
A Neve Menashe staff member wrote anonymously to Social Affairs Minister Isaac Herzog last month, describing how the head of the home's closed-ward had smashed a bottle on a patient's head, causing him a deep cut above the eyebrow. Another patient had scalding water poured over him.
The home's management did not report these incidents nor was a police complaint ever filed, as required.
The complainant said that after a closed-ward staffer had complained of severe violence against patients several years ago, the complainant was suspended. Although an examination committee had looked into the affair and recommended removing the closed-ward head, this was not implemented because the workers' union objected. One of the union members is related to head of the closed-ward.
A group of staff members sent Herzog an anonymous complaint in October regarding the death of seven mentally disabled charges since the beginning of the year. The group wrote that the deaths had not been investigated, although two of the deceased had been in good health.
The home's doctor, Yoav Merrick, said he did not notice anything out of order in the death reports, and that the death rate this year was similar to that of previous years.
The letter listed several deficiencies in the home's management, including cronyism in appointments and buying equipment.
"Since the arrival of director Eli Meged, a political appointment, there is complete anarchy in running the home," the workers wrote in their complaint. "All he does is create chaos among the workers."
Related articles: