Radio Islam: Israeli Egg Scam

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.

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