Child chokes to death in J'lem; Haredis protest intended autopsy
One and a half-year-old child suffocated from a plastic bag he placed on his head; doctors agree not to operate on body.
By Jonathan LisA one and a half-year-old child choked to death on Wednesday in Jerusalem, suffocating from a plastic bag he placed on his head.
The child's nanny, when she realized what had happened, brought the child to a medical clinic, after which a Magen David Adom ambulance rushed him in critical condition to Hadassah Hospital, Mount Scopus. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
Jerusalem Police sources said that they do not suspect criminal motives for the death, but are investigating negligence on the part of the nanny.
Soon after the child's death was pronounced, dozens of ultra-Orthodox protesters gathered at the entrance to the hospital, demanding an autopsy not be performed on the child's body. Several of them began rioting, and managed to enter the hospital.
Police officers arrived at the scene, removed them from the hospital, and prevented additional demonstrators from entering.
After several hours, medical staff agreed to examine the body of the child without operating.
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I say this as a doctor: There is no need to do a surgical autopsy when the cause of death is so obvious as this. Doing one "just because" is an affront to the religious sensibilities of those involved. In the US many people don't want autopsies done on loved ones for whatever reason, and we always respect that.