Class action lawsuit over super bug being prepared

Relatives of deadly bug's victims to sue bodies that allegedly failed to prevent its outbreak; ‘there was no implementation of hygienic regulations, standards that are commonplace in hospitals all over the world,’ their attorney says
Aviram Zino

A class action lawsuit is being prepared against the bodies that allegedly failed to stop the spreading of a deadly bacterium that has infected hundreds of patients in Israeli hospitals this past year.

 

The antibiotic-resistant bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae has so far infected some 400-500 people and caused over 120 deaths.

 

David File, whose office is preparing the lawsuit for relatives of some of the virus’ victims, said, “As opposed to other medical malpractice cases, this lawsuit relates to the negligence in preventing the outbreak of the virus due to the (hospitals’) failure to implement hygienic regulations and standards that are commonplace in hospitals all over the world.”

 

Among other things, the lawsuit will claim that “the outbreak, which could have been prevented, apparently occurred due to the fact doctors do not always wash their hands before and after surgery and do not use disinfectant cloths on a regular basis.”

 

The law office added that the Health Ministry is also at fault for not allocating the necessary funds to prevent the outbreak.

 

Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Friday that a similar lawsuit is being prepared by another law office.