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Last update - 17:30 04/06/2008 Knesset bill toughens penalty for attacking medical staff By Shahar Ilan and Haaretz Service Tags: Knesset, Kaplan hospital  The Knesset passed a preliminary reading Wednesday of a bill to impose harsher penalties for assaulting medical staff. The bill, initiated by Meretz MK Haim Oron and Kadima MK Yoel Hasson, came after a Rehovot doctor had been seriously wounded by a patient in a stabbing incident last week on the premises of the city's Kaplan hospital. The suspect, 64, told the police that he had planned to attack his doctor, urologist Marius Gai. He said the doctor had ignored his suffering and recently postponed an operation he had been scheduled for. Advertisement The bill suggests that assaulting medical staff will result in a mandatory prison sentence of six months to six years. Today, the punishment for assaulting state employees is a prison sentence of up to five years. The MKs who initiated the bill said that Israel has recently witnessed growing violence against medical staff, and that the new amendment is to establish a "zero tolerance" approach. Oron criticized Health Minister Yacov Ben Yizri for not attending a special session dedicated to the matter, which was held in the presence of dozens of doctors. "I am unable to understand or shed light on the Health Minister's conduct on this issue as well as on others," he said. On Monday, some 50 doctors demonstrated outside the Health Ministry in Jerusalem, calling on Minister Ben Yizri to immediately set up a national policy for the protection of doctors from violence in hospitals and clinics. Related articles: Patient stabs doctor with screwdriver after surgery is postponed Man stabs doctor for 'ignoring his suffering' Bookmark to del.icio.us   A staunch ally Obama to AIPAC: I'll do everything to prevent Iran from obtaining nukes. Pro-Israel Nazis German group condemns anti-Semitism, says Holocaust 'unjustifiable.'   1.   frustration 19:04  |  Ethan 04/06/08   2.   He`s not frustrated, he`s a psycho 19:38  |  Aphemia 04/06/08   3.   Another patch on criminal law: Legislating stupidity 12:05  |  Ulf 05/06/08

Read & React Obama tells AIPAC: Jerusalem will remain Israel's undivided capital Responses: 70 Olmert: We're close to stopping Iran's nuclear program Responses: 21 German neo-Nazis: We're pro-Israel and we condemn anti-Semitism Responses: 59 U.S. Arabs irate over criticism of celebrity cook's kaffiyeh Responses: 16 Michael Sfard: Is the W. Bank commander maintaining security or apartheid? Send response Rosner's Domain Americans want talks with Iranian leadership (WTR) Obama leads in Lieberman land (WTR) McCain has been hammering at Obama Guest: Why educate child as Jew when he is not Jewish? Poll: What political option is better for Israel? More Headlines 10:55 Olmert: We're close to ending Iran's nuclear program 10:07 Obama to AIPAC: Jerusalem will remain Israel's undivided capital 03:28 Rosner's Domain / It's Obama's good intentions for Israel that AIPAC fears 11:56 Interpol suspects Brazilian Jewish community hid rabbi wanted for child abuse 11:08 U.S. Arabs irate over criticism of celebrity cook's kaffiyeh 11:40 Rights groups petition building of new homes in Ofra settlement 11:48 Secular Israelis wary of impact of non-Jewish olim 11:34 Only 80 yeshiva students opted for national service in past year 10:08 Al Qaida No. 2 slams Egypt for sealing border to Palestinians 02:13 Top Kadima players stymie move to hold primaries 04:01 Hebron settlers seek to join leftists' petition 08:26 Bnei Brak teens accused of raping younger sisters 04:14 New plan to offer tax breaks to Western immigrants Previous Editions Select Day 04 jun 03 jun 02 jun 01 jun 30 may 29 may 28 may 27 may 26 may 25 may 23 may 22 may

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