Doctor Recognized as Work-Injury Victim After Rescuing Pregnant Patient
A family physician in southern Israel has been recognized as a victim of a work-related accident after suffering a herniated disc while carrying an unconscious pregnant patient from a car to his clinic. The Labor Court ruled in his favor, citing credible testimony and medical evidence.
A family physician in his 50s, working at a clinic in the south of the country, was recently recognized as a victim of a work-related accident due to a herniated disc in his lower back, which occurred while he was assisting a pregnant patient who had lost consciousness.
According to his claim filed with the National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi), minutes before the end of his workday, the husband of a patient in her fourth month of pregnancy entered the clinic requesting urgent help for his wife, who remained unconscious in their car. The doctor testified that he went out to the vehicle, and together they lifted the woman to transfer her into the clinic. He recounted that while the husband held her shoulders, he attempted to hold her legs, but during the lift, he felt a sharp stab in his back.
A nurse who witnessed the aftermath testified that she saw the doctor sitting and holding his back immediately after the patient was brought into the treatment room. He initially attempted to treat himself with painkillers and Pilates, but eventually sought medical care when the pain persisted. An MRI later revealed a herniated disc in two vertebrae pressing on the left nerve root.
After the National Insurance Institute initially rejected his claim, the doctor appealed to the Labor Court through Adv. Elishar Feingersh of the Markman-Tomashin & Co. law firm. The court-appointed medical expert, Dr. Ido Zion, concluded that although the doctor had pre-existing degenerative issues, the lifting incident caused a significant deterioration in his condition.
The Regional Labor Court in Beersheba, presided over by Judge Yael Engelberg-Shoham, ruled that the doctor’s version was credible and supported by staff testimony. In the final judgment issued on June 14, 2026, the court recognized the injury as work-related and ordered the National Insurance Institute to pay 5,000 shekels in legal expenses.
Adv. Elishar Feingersh noted: "When there is a consistent version, clear circumstances, and solid evidence, it is certainly possible to prove the connection between the incident and the injury."
