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Three women in their 20s hospitalized in a psychiatric ward at Sheba Medical Center attempted suicide within 48 hours last week, prompting accusations of negligence from their families and an internal investigation by the hospital.
The women, who were admitted to the hospital's open psychiatric ward, survived their injuries and remain hospitalized in intensive care. They are suffering from multiple orthopedic fractures but no brain damage, Sheba said in a statement.
One of the women, identified by a pseudonym as Amit, remains sedated and on a ventilator following surgery. She faces several additional procedures after crushing vertebrae in her lower back and breaking her pelvis, according to her mother, Nurit.
Speaking to Ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth, Nurit said hospital staff failed to protect her daughter despite multiple warnings. "My heart aches, it cries out," she said. "If I can't trust the medical team to keep her safe, what is left? This is a failure, pure medical negligence."
Nurit said she had warned the staff the night before the incident about Amit’s deteriorating mental state and threats of self-harm. She said that despite her warnings, Amit was granted permission to leave the ward unsupervised. She also recounted calling the ward late that night, worried about a glass dish she had accidentally left in a courtyard, fearing Amit could use it to harm herself. A nurse reportedly told her that in the open ward, patients were allowed access to objects like scissors, knives and glass.
The next morning, Amit called her mother and said she was still alive. However, later that day, after receiving permission to leave the ward, she attempted suicide.
The family alleges Amit had a history of suicide attempts, and her hospitalization at Sheba the previous week had followed another suicide attempt. Nurit said that after a psychiatric evaluation, Amit was initially admitted to a closed ward but was transferred to the open ward less than 48 hours later, without the family being informed.
"How could they move her so quickly after multiple suicide attempts?" Nurit said. "I was so worried I even forbade bringing her sneakers, afraid she would use the laces to hurt herself."
Nurit said Amit had shared a traumatic past with hospital staff, questioning how they could release her so soon after acknowledging her risk factors. "After everything they knew, how did they let her out? Who takes responsibility?" she said.
Following the initial incident, Sheba conducted therapy sessions and psychiatric assessments among other patients in the ward, warning of the risk of "emotional contagion," a phenomenon where one suicide attempt may trigger others. According to the hospital, no additional patients were assessed as being at high risk at that time.
Still, within 48 hours, two more patients from the same ward attempted suicide after visiting Amit in intensive care. Sheba officials said the young women, while having a history of suicidal behavior, were not classified as active suicide risks during their stays.
As a precaution, Sheba closed its open psychiatric ward and stationed a security guard outside. "All the girls are in extreme anxiety," Nurit said. "How did it take three incidents before they decided to shut the ward?"
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The Ministry of Health has been informed of the incidents. Sheba said it consulted with leading experts, including Prof. Gil Salzman, head of the Geha Mental Health Center and chair of the Health Ministry’s suicide prevention program.
In a statement, Sheba Medical Center said it remains committed to mental health care and patient rehabilitation. "Our patients are continuously supervised and receive the highest standard of care while respecting their dignity and autonomy," the hospital said. "Mental health care presents complex challenges, including phenomena like emotional contagion. We act according to established protocols and in consultation with leading experts." The hospital said it would continue supporting the patients and their families.