Australian hospital examines patient records after nurse claims to have killed Israelis
From outside Australia, this is the Washington Post
MELBOURNE, Australia — An Australian hospital is examining patient records after a nurse claimed online to have killed Israelis, officials said Wednesday, stressing that no evidence of harm to patients was uncovered.
The claim appears to have been the latest in a surge antisemitic attacks and rhetoric that have roiled Australia . . .
A police strike force, established to focus on the antisemitic crimes in Sydney since the Israel-Hamas war began in 2023, was investigating potential offenses stemming from the online video, including breaches of hate speech law, New South Wales state Health Minister Ryan Park said.
Two nurses who took part in an online discussion with Israeli influencer Max Veifer during a night shift on Tuesday at Sydney’s Bankstown Hospital were suspended on Wednesday, and Park said they would never work for the state health department again. “They are vile, disgusting and deranged individuals,” Park told reporters.
As I posted earlier the first reaction of the TV News reporter was “throw the book at them”. Such a contrast to the UK where there would have been an internal investigation, maybe a reprimand or a verbal warning (but only for impersonating a doctor) and no other sanction. Followed by a seminar for all staff on ‘Islamophobia’.
Jewish leader Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, asserted that there has been increasing extremism among Australia’s medical professionals toward Sydney’s Jewish community.
“For months, I’ve been hearing from medical practitioners in the community who have been warning about extreme content posted by other doctors and nurses online,” Ryvchin told Network 10 television, adding this was not the work of “isolated individuals.” “This is merely the tip of the iceberg,” Ryvchina added.
The Bankstown suburb of Sydney is 31% Muslim; general opinion is that these comments were not made in a vacuum.
Park, the regional health minister, said an investigation into Bankstown Hospital has found no evidence of Jewish patients being hurt. “To the Jewish community today, I say not only am I sorry, but I can assure you this: the care that you get in our hospitals will continue to be first class,” Park said, adding that the hospital’s past record would also be looked into.