Man Sues Medical Centers for 2.5 Million NIS Over Undiagnosed Shoulder Dislocation
A Rosh HaAyin resident has filed a 2.5 million NIS medical malpractice lawsuit against Terem, Clalit, and Beilinson Hospital, alleging a six-month delay in diagnosing a severe shoulder dislocation.
A man in his 30s from Rosh HaAyin has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit demanding 2.5 million NIS in damages after claiming that medical staff at Terem, Clalit Health Services, and Beilinson Hospital failed to properly diagnose a shoulder dislocation for over six months.
According to the lawsuit, filed through attorney Ran Shapira, the incident began while the man was visiting the Dead Sea and nearly drowned. Bystanders pulled him out of the water by his right arm, after which he experienced severe shoulder pain, restricted movement, and difficulty using his arm.
Delayed Diagnosis and Persistent Pain
About an hour after the incident, he arrived at the Terem Urgent Care Center in Kiryat Gat. A shoulder dislocation was suspected, and an attempt was made to reset the joint, but movement remained restricted. Despite this, no follow-up X-ray was performed to verify joint alignment, and he was not referred to an emergency room or advanced imaging.
Eleven days later, with pain persisting, he visited Terem in Rosh HaAyin, where he was once again directed to community-based tests and physiotherapy, mistakenly receiving instructions for an unrelated Achilles tendon issue. Over the following months, despite examinations and an ultrasound through Clalit Health Services, the dislocation remained undiagnosed. Four and a half months post-injury, he visited the Beilinson Hospital emergency room, where his condition was diagnosed as a frozen shoulder without performing X-rays or CT scans.
"It is unacceptable that a person walks around for many months with a dislocated shoulder while the suspicion was documented in his medical record from the very first encounter," stated attorney Ran Shapira.
Surgery and Permanent Disability
More than six months after the injury, advanced imaging finally revealed an extensive and neglected posterior dislocation of the right shoulder, along with bone damage and cartilage injury. Nine months after the initial incident, he underwent open surgery at Beilinson Hospital to reconstruct the joint.
Dr. Zvi Goren, an orthopedic surgery and sports medicine expert, stated in his opinion that a CT scan following the initial unsuccessful reset would have avoided the need for open surgery. He assessed the plaintiff's permanent disability at 32.5% due to joint limitation and surgical scarring.
The lawsuit was filed in the Tel Aviv Magistrates' Court. Clalit and Beilinson responded that the statement of claim was recently received and a detailed response will be provided through the legal proceedings.
