Jerusalem Court Upholds Suspension of Physician Charged with Sexual Offenses

The Jerusalem District Court has dismissed the appeal of Dr. Guy Rofe, an obstetrician and gynecologist, upholding a five-year suspension of his medical license, the Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday. Rofe was indicted in June 2024 on charges of sexual offenses against a patient, and his criminal trial is ongoing.

In a landmark ruling, the court addressed the claim of self-incrimination regarding medical records. It was determined that a medical practitioner cannot refuse to provide medical records under the pretext of self-incrimination. The judges clarified that medical records are statutory documents required by law and do not constitute personal material protected by privilege.

Furthermore, the court ruled that Rofe is prohibited from continuing to present himself to the public as a physician. The court severely criticized Rofe for continuing to portray himself as a practitioner despite the disciplinary and judicial rulings against him.

The Ministry of Health stated that it views any harm to patients with utmost gravity, particularly regarding sexual offenses, and maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward unprofessional conduct that undermines public trust.