Ha´aretz, Internet News Article, January 24th, 2001:
Three specialists indicted in egg scam
By Haim Shadmi
Ha'aretz Correspondent
Three leading physicians will be indicted for their part in a
program of illegally extracting eggs from women, Tel Aviv prosecutor
decided yesterday.
Prof. Tzion Ben-Rafael, head of the gynecology
department at the Rabin (Beilinson) Medical Center in Petah
Tikva, Dr. Yaakov Ashkenazi, of the in-vitro fertilization unit at
Sharon Hospital, Petah Tikva, and Dr. Avi Kogosowski, head of the
in-vitro fertilization unit at the Herzliya Medical Center, will be
indicted in a case first exposed by Ha'aretz.
The Justice Ministry confirmed an indictment will be served but added
that those involved will first be given the right to be heard within
30 days.
Ben-Rafael and Ashkenazi are charged with fraud, breach of trust and
forgery. Kogosowski is being indicted for conspiring to commit
forgery.
Prof. Ben-Rafael and Dr. Ashkenazi are suspected of causing women
undergoing fertility treatment at the Herzliya Medical Center to
produce large quantities of eggs, at great risk to their health.
They then allegedly extracted the eggs and sold them to other women,
and without the consent of the donors. Alternately, they extracted
far more eggs than the donors consented to provide.
Ben-Rafael was suspended from his duties at Beilinson on Sunday.
However, his attorney in the matter of his suspension, Eli Zohar,
instructed him to show up for work as normal because the suspension
is unlawful. Beilinson Hospital said Takshir (civil service
regulations) compels it to suspend employees until after any legal
proceedings are complete. Ben-Rafael's counsel for the indictment
itself, attorney Yaakov Weinroth, would not comment on the
prosecution's decision to indict.
Herzliya Medical Center said they are aware of the letter from the
prosecutor to Dr. Kogosowski. "We will issue a response when we have
further details," they said. Kogosowski's counsel, Orna Linn, would
not comment. Ashkenazi could not be reached before the paper went to
print.
