Sheba Medical Center Ordered to Pay 9.2M Shekels Over Childbirth Infection

A District Court in Lod has ordered Sheba Medical Center to pay 9.24 million shekels in compensation to a woman who contracted a severe flesh-eating bacterial infection following the birth of her twins in December 2015. Judge Bilha Tolkovsky ruled that the hospital was negligent due to the doctor failing to wear a face mask during the delivery and a subsequent delay in diagnosing the infection, which ultimately led to a hysterectomy and other catastrophic health complications.

In December 2015, the 39-year-old plaintiff arrived at Sheba Medical Center to give birth to twins. The delivery took place in an operating room in preparation for a potential cesarean section. Both infants were delivered using vacuum extraction, and the attending physician sutured tears sustained by the mother during the procedure. Five days later, the woman was rushed to the emergency room suffering from extreme fatigue, low blood pressure, and severe abdominal and leg pain. Tests revealed a Group A Streptococcus bacterial infection. Her condition deteriorated rapidly, forcing doctors to perform a hysterectomy and remove infected tissue from her leg.

An epidemiological investigation conducted at the hospital following other infection cases revealed that the delivery physician carried a genetically identical strain of the bacterium found in the patient's body. In her lawsuit, the woman argued that the doctor did not wear a mask while suturing her tears, violating Ministry of Health guidelines. She also asserted that the medical staff ignored her complaints of pain during hospitalization despite the need for heightened vigilance following a previous infection incident.

The state argued that masks are not mandatory for vaginal deliveries even when performed in an operating room, and denied any negligence in medical monitoring, claiming the infection was aggressive and fast-developing. Judge Tolkovsky rejected the state's position, establishing that Ministry of Health regulations require mask-wearing during any patient treatment in an operating room, including postpartum suturing. The court concluded that on the balance of probabilities, the delivering physician was the source of transmission.

The judge also identified negligence in the medical follow-up, noting the patient was discharged despite severe pain complaints without updated blood tests or senior physician consultation. The plaintiff, formerly a lawyer, suffers from a 64 percent combined medical disability, including psychological trauma and fibromyalgia, and cannot return to her profession. The court awarded approximately 8.86 million shekels for lost earnings, pension, medical expenses, and pain and suffering, resulting in a net payment of over 7.47 million shekels plus legal fees.