Ministry of Health issues urgent warning: A doctor you should not consult
Recent inquiries have revealed that Dr. Michael Yanko continues to provide medical opinions, including for children, even though his license was suspended for 15 years following a conviction for obtaining by deception.
The Ministry of Health has issued a public warning following several recent inquiries, according to which Dr. Michael Yanko continues to provide mental health consulting services, even though his medical license was suspended for 15 years. The ministry emphasizes that the suspension remains in effect and he is not permitted to practice medicine.
According to the Ministry of Health, the services reported include medical opinions concerning children and adolescents. The ministry urges the public to exercise extreme caution and ensure that any consultation or medical document is obtained from a professional holding a valid license.
The license suspension was imposed in December 2025, after Dr. Yanko was convicted in criminal proceedings of obtaining by deception under aggravating circumstances. Following the conviction, a disciplinary procedure was held at the Ministry of Health, resulting in the decision to suspend his license for a prolonged period.
As part of the disciplinary proceedings, it was determined that Yanko provided false recommendations to facilitate the issuance of medical cannabis licenses. The disciplinary tribunal described his conduct as systematic and recurring criminal activity, noting that these actions severely damaged public trust in the medical profession.
The Ministry of Health emphasizes that as long as the suspension is in effect, Yanko is not permitted to provide medical services. Consequently, medical opinions, diagnoses, certificates, therapeutic recommendations, and documents issued by him are not officially valid.
According to the ministry, such documents will not be recognized by various bodies, including courts, medical committees, government ministries, HMOs, educational institutions, the IDF, the National Insurance Institute, and insurance companies.
The Ministry of Health calls on the public to verify the validity of a practitioner's license before receiving any consultation. The ministry stresses that one should rely only on qualified professionals who hold a valid license to practice medicine in Israel.
