The nurse was convicted in disciplinary proceedings for injecting a psychiatric sedative medication into a patient without authorization and performing a rectal examination on him. The patient's condition subsequently deteriorated, but the nurse failed to report this development or monitor his status. Hours later, he was found dead in his bed in the internal medicine ward. The nurse initially concealed her actions but later admitted to administering the drug.

Confession came only after confrontation

The June 2020 incident unfolded during evening hours in Rambam's internal medicine ward, where the experienced nurse – with approximately ten years of service – was caring for multiple patients. Without medical orders and in violation of hospital protocols, she decided to conduct a rectal examination on the patient, first injecting him intravenously with Dormicum, a sedative and anesthetic medication.

The disciplinary complaint stated that "she performed the injection and rectal examination without proper authority, without physician orders and contrary to nursing administration directives and executive circulars."

Medical documentation revealed the patient suffered abnormal, below-normal blood pressure readings that should have triggered the "deteriorating patient protocol" – requiring immediate physician notification, continuous monitoring and systematic follow-up. None of these critical steps were implemented. The following day, staff found the patient without vital signs. Despite resuscitation attempts, medical personnel declared his death.

Hospital disciplinary authorities emphasized that "at shift's end, she failed to report the medication administration to supervisors or incoming staff; she neglected to record and document procedures in the medical chart, violating established guidelines and legal requirements."

When a supervising nurse later asked whether she had additional information about the deceased patient's care, she declined to share details. Only after the morning shift supervisor confronted her with an empty Dormicum vial discovered at the scene did she acknowledge injecting the medication.

"Integrity claims difficult to accept"

The incident prompted an internal Rambam hospital investigation and formal hearing where the nurse acknowledged the primary allegations. Her hospital employment terminated within two weeks of the incident.

Disciplinary charges included conduct unbecoming the nursing profession, failure to maintain professional responsibility and serious negligence. However, formal complaint filing was delayed pending completion of police investigation procedures.

Ministry of Health prosecutors and defense counsel reached a negotiated agreement requiring the nurse to admit responsibility in exchange for a consensual one-year license suspension.

Defense attorneys Tami Ulman and Yaakov Shlomowitz contended that "no causal connection existed between her actions and the patient's death, with police investigation files subsequently closed." They emphasized their client "accepted responsibility for her actions, expressed genuine remorse and has since changed employment while incorporating necessary lessons. Her attributed actions stemmed from good intentions aimed at alleviating patient suffering."

Ministry of Health disciplinary committee members characterized the case as "a cascading sequence of actions and omissions – the severity of the respondent's conduct cannot be overstated. Entrusted with patient care and welfare responsibilities, she initiated actions that created genuine health hazards."

Committee members – chairwoman Dr. Rina Shimonov, nurses' association representative Sara Efrati and government legal advisor attorney Arie Roter – observed that "upon learning of the patient's death, she demonstrated no urgency in disclosing her actions, revealing them only when confronted with physical evidence. Under these circumstances, claims of honest conduct appear questionable."

"While momentary judgment failures might be attributed to claimed benevolent intentions toward patient comfort, her subsequent behavior patterns prove difficult to accept. The respondent's conduct suggests not merely poor judgment and inadequate professionalism, but fundamental responsibility failures in mandatory reporting and deliberate incident concealment."

Committee members considered the agreed one-year suspension insufficiently severe, believing two-to-five-year suspension periods more appropriate for such violations, but ultimately endorsed the negotiated resolution.

Deputy Health Ministry Director General Dr. Safi Mendelowitz implemented the license revocation effective May, spanning one full year. His decision noted that "despite personal discomfort with the plea arrangement's leniency toward the respondent, I have accepted this agreement, recognizing that plea arrangements should face intervention only under exceptional circumstances, consistent with the disciplinary committee's recommendations."

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Named after the Finnish city where it was found, the virus has a diameter of about 200 nanometers, making it roughly twice the size of the influenza or coronavirus. Identified in a compost sample, the discovery suggests giant viruses are more common in soil and water bodies – even in northern environments – than previously assumed.

The researchers mixed environmental samples with a culture of the amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii to isolate the virus, uncovering not only Jyvaskylavirus but also other new giant viruses in the samples.

"We determined the genome and structure of Jyvaskylavirus, and it was found to be related to the 'Marseillevirus' previously isolated in France. Additionally, other new giant viruses were identified in the samples," said Professor Lotta-Riina Sundberg, as reported by Science Daily.

Giant viruses, like Jyvaskylavirus, have been discovered in recent years and can be as large as bacteria, sometimes up to 1,000 times larger than their relatives. These viruses can have genomes with up to 2.5 million base pairs in their genetic material, far exceeding the 7,000-20,000 base pairs typical of standard-sized viruses.

According to SciTechDaily, the discovery of Jyvaskylavirus highlights how much remains unknown about the structure, origin, and function of many giant viruses.

"This new discovery will help us better understand the interactions between bacteria and the role of viruses in regulating communities of all living organisms," Sundberg said.

In recent years, over 60 species of giant viruses have been documented in remote regions worldwide, including Europe, South America, North Africa, India, Japan, and Siberia. Scientists have identified giant viruses – some as large as bacteria – that infect amoebas and other microorganisms. One such virus, Tupanvirus, was discovered in 2018 in brackish swamps in Brazil.

Other giant viruses have been found in extreme environments, such as Siberia's frozen soil, where Pithovirus and Mollivirus retained their infectivity after 30,000 years. Researchers have warned that climate change could lead to the release and reactivation of additional harmful viruses as ice melts.

"Despite their intimidating name, giant viruses are not necessarily more dangerous than regular-sized species, and Jyvaskylavirus is not considered a threat to humans," the scientists reported.

The researchers hope further studies will deepen the understanding of these unique microscopic organisms. "These giant viruses play key roles in ecosystems and are more widespread than previously thought," Science Daily reported.

Giant viruses have exponentially larger genomes compared to standard-sized viruses. While many viruses measure tens of nanometers in size, Jyvaskylavirus is larger but still significantly smaller than the largest known giant virus, Pandoravirus salinas, which measures 500 nanometers.

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US President Joe Biden on Friday called on Hamas terrorists to agree to a new offer from Israel on releasing hostages in exchange for a Gaza ceasefire, saying this is the best way to begin winding down the deadly conflict.

"With a ceasefire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all who need it," Biden said.  "As someone who's had a lifelong commitment to Israel, as the only American president who has ever gone to Israel at a time of war, as someone who just sent the US forces to directly defend Israel when it was attacked by Iran, I ask you to take a step back, think what will happen if this moment is lost," he said. "We can't lose this moment."

Video: Biden urges Hamas to accept deal / Credit: YouTube/WHiteHouse

The plan's first phase would span six weeks of total ceasefire and an IDF pullout from main Gazan population centers in exchange for the release of women, injured and elderly hostages from Hamas captivity, and hundreds of Palestinians from Israeli prisons. The second phase will see the rest of the living hostages being released, including soldiers, while IDF forces withdraw from Gaza and the ceasefire continuing. The third phase will include the return of bodies and the launch of reconstruction, along with new normalization deals between Israel and its neighbors, potentially including Saudi Arabia.

Israel has offered a three-part "roadmap" to a cease-fire that has been sent to Hamas and that includes the release of hostages and the distribution of aid in Gaza, Pres. Biden says. Here's what it entails. https://t.co/CocwqFlPhQ pic.twitter.com/WfaVkdlYrm

— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 31, 2024

"It's a roadmap to an enduring cease-fire and the release of all hostages. This proposal has been transmitted by Qatar to Hamas. Today, I want to lay out just terms for American citizens and for the world. This new proposal has three phases," Biden said. "There are a number of details to negotiate, to move from phase one to phase two. Israel could be part of a regional security network to counter the threat posed by Iran. All this progress would make Israel more secure with Israeli families no longer living in the shadow of a terrorist attack. All of this would create the conditions for a different future, a better future for the Palestinian people one of self-determination, dignity, security, and freedom."

An earlier hostage proposal put forward earlier this year called for the release of sick, elderly and wounded hostages in Gaza in exchange for a six-week ceasefire that could be extended to allow for more humanitarian aid to be delivered into the enclave.

The proposed deal fell apart earlier this month after Israel refused to agree to a permanent end to the war as part of the negotiations and ramped up an assault on the city of Rafah in southern Gaza.

"This is truly a decisive moment," Biden said as he spoke of the three-phase deal that Israeli officials have offered Hamas. "Israel has made their proposal. Hamas says it wants a cease-fire. This deal is an opportunity to prove whether they really mean it."

Hamas said on Thursday it had told mediators it would not take part in more negotiations during ongoing aggression but was ready for a "complete agreement," including an exchange of hostages and prisoners if Israel stopped the war. Talks mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and others to arrange a ceasefire between Israel and the Islamist movement in the Gaza war have repeatedly stalled, with both sides blaming the other for the lack of progress.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan would meet on Friday with diplomats from 17 countries who have citizens held hostage in Gaza by Hamas. Israel will not agree to any halt in fighting that is not part of a deal that includes the return of surviving hostages, a senior Israeli security official said on Friday.

Overshadowing Biden was an Israeli airstrike in Rafah on Sunday that killed 45 Palestinians.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Tuesday that recent Israeli ground operations in Rafah would not prompt a US withdrawal of more military aid.

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Breaking his silence on the pro-Palestine protest encampment, Interim Harvard President Alan M. Garber issued a university-wide email on Monday morning, threatening "involuntary leave" for demonstrators who persisted in controlling Harvard Yard. 

"I write today with this simple message: The continuation of the encampment presents a significant risk to the educational environment of the University," Garber wrote. "Those who participate in or perpetuate its continuation will be referred for involuntary leave from their Schools. The encampment favors the voices of a few over the rights of many who have experienced disruption in how they learn and work at a critical time of the semester," Garber added. "I call on those participating in the encampment to end the control of Harvard Yard."

Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine (HOOP) – the unrecognized pro-Palestine student group organizing the encampment — wrote in a statement that "Garber's threats represent a significant and unprecedented escalation by the University, and we will respond at our press conference at 5 p.m. today at Johnston Gate, Harvard Yard."

The escalation coincides with the impending end of finals, leaving just over two weeks until Harvard's commencement ceremonies, which are anticipated to host multitudes of Harvard affiliates, families, and esteemed guests.

In his email, Garber cautioned that suspended students would be unable to complete exams, maintain residence in Harvard housing, and "must cease to be present on campus until reinstated." Barring students from campus could pave the way for police intervention to remove protesters from the Yard. However, Garber did not indicate any immediate plans for forcible removal, despite previously setting a "very high bar" for police action. He also did not express any intention to engage in negotiations with HOOP, which had set a deadline of 5 p.m. on Monday.

Garber added he was "troubled by increasing reports" of "intimidation and harassment" by encampment protesters. "When Harvard staff have requested IDs...supporters have at times yelled, tried to encircle them, and interfered with their work," he wrote. "We have received reports that passers-by have been confronted, surveilled, and followed. Such actions are indefensible."

He also warned the encampment could impact commencement, risking alienating support from affiliates like graduating seniors if it disrupts the ceremony attended by 32,000 annually. "The members of the class of 2024 deserve to enjoy this milestone uninterrupted and unimpeded," Garber stated. "It would be especially painful if students...denied a full graduation ceremony for a second time." The statement came hours after Columbia University canceled its main commencement following pro-Palestinian protests and arrests.

For 13 days, Garber had permitted the encampment while disciplinary proceedings against the students were initiated. This approach had enabled Harvard to avoid the backlash that other universities faced over pro-Palestinian protests. Garber's statement suggests that Harvard's strategy is now shifting after nearly two weeks.

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Against the backdrop of an increase in coronavirus morbidity, the government decided Wednesday to boost vaccinations, specifically among the elderly and those with preexisting conditions.

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In a meeting between Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz, and the heads of Israeli health funds, officials decided to incentivize Israelis over the age of 60 to get their fourth shot of the vaccine with 100 shekels ($31).

The government also agreed on keeping the indoor mask mandate, which was supposed to end on April 1, in place until at least May 1.

Health experts also presented Bennett and Horowitz with a plan for dealing with a potential new COVID variant arriving in Israel. Measures include, among other things, canceling air travel and sealing the country's borders. No serious restrictions on the public are expected to be imposed at this time.

The IDF Military Intelligence Directorate has attributed the increase in the infection to the spread of the BA.2 variant, also known as "stealth Omicron," in the country and globally; the decline in the number of antibodies in individuals who have recovered from COVID some time ago; and a general decrease in the public's meticulousness with health guidelines, such as mask-wearing and social distancing.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry reported that on Friday morning that of the 66,986 Israelis it screened for COVID in the past 24 hours, 12,003 (17.92%) tested positive.

There are 67,026 active cases in the country with 753 patients hospitalized. Of those, 300 are in serious condition.

Thus far, 746,805 Israelis have been vaccinated with four shots, 4,473,250 with three, 6,127,207 with two, and 6,702,033 have received one shot.

Israel has reported 3,831,473 COVID cases, including 10,460 deaths, since the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020.

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A new coronavirus mutation has been identified in Israel, the Health Ministry reported Wednesday morning, saying it is a combination of the BA1 strain (Omicron) and its subvariant, BA2 (sometimes referred to as "stealth Omicron").

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Officials identified two such cases when testing arrivals at Ben-Gurion International airport. No other country has reported similar cases.

Both individuals exhibited light symptoms, including fever, headache, and muscle pain. Neither required special medical attention.
The ministry said it was closely monitoring the strain.

Coronavirus Commissioner Salman Zarka said about the strain, "This phenomenon occurs when two new strains meet, they reproduce and take traits from both strains. The infection most likely happened in Israel. A young woman infected a baby and her parents. The two flew abroad and when they returned, their test results at Ben-Gurion airport were tested for new variants, which is when the new strain was revealed."

When asked about the severity of the new mutation, Zarka said, "Omicron is very contagious compared to the Delta, it is still here and the reproduction rate began to rise even before the new strain [was detected.] Those who got infected have recovered already, and until now we have seen a light disease … We continue to monitor the phenomenon, but at this stage, we are not very concerned about the new mutation."

Due to the recent increase in the reproduction rate, Zarka called on the Israeli public to don masks indoors, follow health guidelines, and get vaccinated.

On Wednesday morning, the Health Ministry reported 6,310 news cases. Altogether, 57,708 Israelis were screened for the virus in the past 24 hours, which puts the infection rate at 10.93%.

There are 37,557 active cases in the country with 789 patients hospitalized. Of those, 335 are in serious condition.

Thus far, 736,786 Israelis have been vaccinated with four doses, 4,469,410 with three, 6,124,888 with two, and 6,700,861 have received one shot.

Israel has reported 3,734,462 cases, including 10,401 deaths, since the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020.

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The Omicron coronavirus wave continues to decrease in Israel with 9,120 new cases reported by the Health Ministry on Friday morning. Altogether, 76,601 Israelis were screened for the virus in the past 24 hours, which puts the infection rate at 11.91%.

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There are 93,350 active cases in the country with 1,437 patients hospitalized. Of those, 653 are in serious condition: 276 are critically ill, 230 are on ventilators and 24 are connected to ECMO machines. Currently, 34,158 Israelis are in self-isolation.

Thus far, 725,541 Israelis have been vaccinated with four doses, 4,462,974 with three, 6,119,901 with two, and 6,698,743 have been inoculated with one shot.

Israel has reported 3,604,835 COVID cases, including 10,108 deaths, since the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020.

As Omicron begins to wane in other countries worldwide as well, governments begin to ease restrictions on public life.

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to announce Friday a change to the metrics it uses to determine whether to recommend face coverings, shifting from looking at COVID case counts to a more holistic view of risk from the coronavirus to a community.

Under current guidelines, masks are recommended for people residing in communities of substantial or high transmission – roughly 95% of US counties, according to the latest data.

The new metrics will still consider caseloads, but also take into account hospitalizations and local hospital capacity, which have been markedly improved during the emergence of Omicron. The strain is highly transmissible, but indications are that it is less severe than earlier strains, particularly for people who are fully vaccinated and boosted.

Under the new guidelines, the vast majority of Americans will no longer live in areas where indoor masking in public is recommended, based on current data.

Iceland too is expected to lift all remaining COVID restrictions on Friday, including a 200-person indoor gathering limit and restricted opening hours for bars, the country's Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

"Widespread societal resistance to COVID-19 is the main route out of the epidemic," the ministry said in a statement, citing infectious disease authorities.

"To achieve this, as many people as possible need to be infected with the virus as the vaccines are not enough, even though they provide good protection against serious illness," it added.

All border restrictions would also be lifted, it said.

Iceland, with a population of some 368,000 people, has registered between 2,100 and 2,800 daily infections recently. More than 115,000 infections have been logged throughout the epidemic and 61 have died due to COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has signed a contract with Deutsche Telekom subsidiary T-Systems to build a software solution for global electronic verification of coronavirus vaccination certificates, the telecoms company said on Wednesday.

The QR code-based software solution will be used for other vaccinations as well, such as polio or yellow fever, T-Systems said in a statement, adding that the WHO would support its 194 member states in building national and regional verification technology. The financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

"Health is a strategic growth area for T-Systems," said T-Systems Chief Executive Officer Adel Al-Saleh.

T-Systems previously worked with SAP to develop Germany's Corona-Warn-App tracing and verification app and a Europe-wide digital COVID-19 vaccine verification system.

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Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said that foreign tourists, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, would be required to take PCR coronavirus tests before their flights and upon landing. The rules go into effect on March 1.

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"We are seeing a constant decline in morbidity data, so it is time to gradually open up," Bennett said.

Israel has largely restricted the entry of foreign tourists for the past two years and virtually closed its skies to foreign visitors late last year with the arrival of the highly contagious omicron variant. Recent data has shown a sharp drop in new cases, mirroring patterns in other countries around the world.

Bennett's office said that restrictions would also be eased on Israelis returning to the country, with travelers no longer required to take a PCR test before their flight. Requirements for weekly testing of school children will also be halted in the coming weeks.

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Coronavirus morbidity continued to decrease in Israel with 15,297 new cases reported by the Health Ministry on Friday morning. Altogether, 93,671 Israelis were screened for the disease, which puts the infection rate at 16.33%

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There are 152,503 active cases in the country with 1,857 patients hospitalized. Of those, 827 are in serious condition, down by 59 from the day before. Currently, 37,015 Israelis are in quarantine.

Israelis continued to get vaccinated, with 708,952 having been inoculated with four doses, 4,459,073 with three, 6,116,553 with two, and 6,697,307 with one shot since the launch of the national immunization campaigns.

Israel has reported 3,517,258 cases, including 9,800 deaths, since the outbreak of the pandemic in March 2020. Of those, 231 died in the past seven days, a 41% decrease from the week before.

As the Omicron wave continues to subside, and the government is poised to remove most restrictions on public life, Coronavirus Commissioner Salman Zarka warned on Thursday that declaring victory would be premature, seeing as "the daily caseload remains high."

"The B.12 [Omicron subvariant] can lead to serious illness among the at-risk population. It is important to protect the elderly population and get vaccinated with the third and fourth doses. We will continue to have different protective systems in place and work together with authorities."

Zarka also said, that "the working assumption is that the Omicron wave is not the last one. We will investigate the fifth [current] wave, learn lessons, and be prepared for the sixth one as well."

Nevertheless, the health chief stressed that "we need to find a way to live alongside COVID. Lockdowns and restrictions are not relevant. It is our duty to adapt our policy as morbidity decreases, which is exactly what we are doing."

Also on Thursday, the health committee that advises the Health Ministry proposed an outline that would no longer require Israelis to present proof of vaccination or recovery when entering event halls and shopping malls, cancel mandatory screening in schools, and even testing of individuals who came into contact with a confirmed COVID carrier, but do not exhibit any symptoms (with the exclusion of at-risk Israelis and nursing home workers).

In related news, a study by researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that individuals who recovered from COVID have a significantly higher chance of experiencing mental health problems, such as depression and PTSD.

The comprehensive study – published in the British Medical Journal – said that disorders arose within a year after recovery in patients who exhibit mild or serious symptoms. It included 153 848 participants.

Researchers found that COVID recoverees were 60% more likely to suffer from mental health problems than those who were not infected. This led to increased use of medication on their behalf and, in turn, an increased risk of substance abuse.

"We know from previous studies and personal experiences that the immense challenges of the past two years of the pandemic have had a profound effect on our collective mental health," Ziyad Al-Aly, a clinical epidemiologist at Washington University who authored the study, said.

"But while we've all suffered during the pandemic, people who have had COVID-19 fare far worse mentally. We need to acknowledge this reality and address these conditions now before they balloon into a much larger mental health crisis."

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