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Because the number of organs available for transplantation does not meet the needs of potential recipients, some have proposed that a potentially effective way to increase registration is to offer a self-benefit incentive that grants a 'preferred status' or some degree of prioritization to those who register as potential donors, in case they might need organs. This proposal has elicited an ethical debate on the appropriateness of such a benefit in the context of a life-saving medical procedure. In this paper we review arguments and ethical concerns raised by scholars, and studies of views of members of the public regarding the prioritization incentive system. We also report on our study of the views of those involved in organ transplant and of other medical professionals in Israel, as over half a decade ago Israel implemented a prioritization incentive system. Bioethicists propose that key stakeholders' views can provide additional arguments and perspectives on controversial issues. Proponents justify the prioritization incentive drawing mainly on arguments related to its potential effectiveness, reciprocity and fairness. Opponents point to the fact that registering is not binding and not an actual donation, and raise concerns regarding equity, autonomy and gaming the system. Ethical concerns raised by the practitioners in the study were examined in light of scholars' arguments and actual registration and donation data. Practitioners involved in transplantation raised ethical concerns corresponding to those raised by scholars as well as additional concerns. They also challenged proponents' assumptions regarding the utility of the incentive system from their own experience and argued that proponents obscure the meaning of reciprocity., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The present study focuses on the way child protection officers (CPOs) in Israel assess suspected abuse and neglect (SCAN) reports made by hospital child protection teams (CPTs), to determine whether the alleged maltreatment is substantiated. The study was conducted in six medical centers and included 358 reports investigated by CPOs for SCAN. A structured questionnaire was completed by hospital CPTs to capture all relevant information on each child referred to the CPTs. Structured phone interviews were conducted with each of the CPOs who received a CPT report. Bivariate associations and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to estimate the substantiation rate of cases reported by CPTs and the types of maltreatment substantiated, as well as to identify case characteristics of the child and the family that were associated with the CPOs' substantiation decision. CPO follow-up investigations revealed a substantiation rate of 53.5%. The maltreatment type most commonly substantiated was neglect. The case characteristics associated with substantiation included socio-demographic background, parents' health and functioning, previous contact with social services, characteristics of the hospital referral, medical findings and an assessment of the parents' behaviors. The findings of the study highlighted the importance of cooperation between the health and welfare services and the policy makers. This cooperation is essential for identifying early signs of maltreatment. Enhanced cooperation and effective information transfer between various professionals would help prevent or at least reduce the recurrence of maltreatment and would ensure that the children and their families are treated appropriately., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Information Technology (IT) and computing capabilities are revolutionizing the practice of medicine in an unprecedented way. Some current legal and ethical concerns evolving from this revolution are addressed, pointing to the emerging concepts in Israeli jurisprudence, which regards medical IT as an important contribution to patient empowerment, to medical risk management and in managing the resources of a national health system.

In an attempt to re-structure and formulate western bio-ethics in the '80's, the four principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy and justice were promulgated in North America and the United Kingdom. Extensive criticism was leveled against this endeavor, as being erroneous in principle or substantially inadequate. Furthermore, European opponents of this effort claimed that the Continent's 'true' set of values greatly differs from those of North America, hence negating attempts for global bio-ethics based on these principles. In this review the principles of modern American bio-ethics are presented and criticisms presently deliberated in Europe are introduced, while offering alternative principles. Israel's unique position is demonstrated by its legislation on issues such as the national health system, organ transplantation, the right to refuse medical treatment and stem cell research, all confirming that Israel begs to differ. We conclude that European values have much in common with Israel's tradition and culture, commending due modification of our ethical conceptions and training programs. The coming years should be characterized by constant dialogue between the proponents of European and American values, while Israel's individual standpoint is maintained.

Embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) holds great promise for future remedies, coupled with gainful venture opportunities. However, the possibility to benefit to the full extent from this modality is contingent to the resolution of significant ethical and legal difficulties. Currently, a myriad of international laws and regulation precludes a systematic, singular point of view, necessitating a nation-by-nation analysis. This article focuses on the legal and ethical framework of ESCR in Israel, where significant scientific and entrepreneurship activities are taking place. The article highlights the current legislation and regulation, and presents the prevailing guidelines developed by national advisory committees in authorizing stem cell research. The main issues presented include the status of pre-embryos, rights of gamete donors and the breadth of informed consent required, the concept of benefit-sharing and limitation on oocyte retrieval, critical in this arena. Such description is meant to enable the understanding of current trends in legal and ethical research scrutiny in Israel, illuminate the duties and restraints of researchers and their financing companies, thereby fostering a more rationalized prospective of biotechnology endeavors.

Patients' rights laws, bills and charters aim at delineating the patient-physician relationship in regard to consent to medical treatment, confidentiality and related issues. The need to shape such an intimate relationship by way of legislation seems anomalous to some, but imperative to others. We present for the first time an insight into Israeli physicians' attitudes towards Israel's patients' rights laws, in a changing medical and socio-legal environment. The research results suggest that physicians are reluctant to participate in the implementation of such laws, demonstrated by the level of their misunderstanding of the law's norms and regulations, and subjective attitudes and perceptions. In order to ensure the medical community's participation in augmenting patients' rights, efforts should focus on improved legal and ethical education, enhanced cooperation of professional associations and joint action with legislators to assure a productive composition of these important acts.