Police detain three staff over unauthorized blood draws at Kaplan Medical Center

A recent review of hospital finances revealed irregularities in patient billing, prompting a deeper audit of clinical procedures. On Thursday, Israeli police detained three individuals to question them about the collection of blood samples without patient consent at Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot.

The suspects were taken into custody by investigators from the Israel Police's Central District Fraud and Cybercrime Unit. This action marks a development in a case that emerged roughly two weeks ago when internal suspicions first surfaced. The hospital's head of cardiology, Prof. Kobi George, was suspended following the launch of an internal inquiry.

Hospital officials initiated the process after suspecting that a senior staff member and two other employees collected samples for research rather than for standard medical treatment. The facility subsequently notified the police and reported the allegations to the Health Ministry. Preliminary findings indicate that patients underwent blood tests that were not medically necessary.

The core allegation is that the samples were used for research purposes without obtaining the patients' consent. The individuals affected by these procedures have not yet been informed of their involvement in the case. Police are currently examining how the samples were collected and verifying their usage.

Kaplan Medical Center stated it is cooperating with law enforcement authorities as required. The hospital has not released further details regarding the financial impact or the specific research protocols involved in the suspected unauthorized collections.