Litzman: Investigate forensic chief's activities

Deputy health minister demands probe into complaints against Hiss about allegedly holding organs removed during exams.

Litzman 311 (photo credit: JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVITCH)
Litzman 311
(photo credit: JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVITCH)
Deputy Health Minister Ya’acov Litzman has ordered an investigation of the performance of Prof. Yehuda Hiss, the longtime pathologist who heads the L.Greenberg Institute of Forensic Medicine at Abu Kabir.
Litzman was referring to complaints against Hiss about allegedly holding tissue and organs removed during pathology exams, including the return of tissue for burial in a ministry campaign.
Some years ago, Hiss was severely criticized by newspapers that investigated his handling of body parts. In response, the ministry took away the institute’s independent status, rendering it subservient to Assaf Harofeh Medical Center in Tzrifin.
The burial of the tissue samples, which have been used to demonstrate causes of death in cases of unnatural death, will take place in a mass grave on June 5. Families have been informed. Only microscopic samples need to be stored at this point, the ministry said.
Ministry director-general Prof. Ronni Gamzu will report back to Litzman in a month about Hiss’s performance.