Журнал. World association for medical law. The COVID-19 pandemic. Volume 39 2

225 World Association for Medical Law Medicine and Law LEGALAND ETHICAL RAMIFICATIONS OF COVID-19 IN ISRAEL Jonathan Davies 1 Abstract: Since the outbreak of the corona pandemic, more than seven million people have fallen ill and about half a million people have died in approximately 200 countries 2 . In Israel, the numbers have stabilized - to date around 17,000 infected patients by the virus, most of whom have recovered, and approximately 250 deaths. These low rates are related to the swift precautions the Israeli government enacted and the relatively young and low risk population. The corona crisis affords a good opportunity of examining whether this will serve as an historical turning point. This article examines the pre-pandemic status of the health system in Israel to forecast what effect the Covid-19 crisis will have on human rights, in general, as well as on patient rights and ethical guidelines. Two weeks after the outbreak, Israel transitioned from a normal functioning system and public, under a liberal democratic system of government and the civil freedoms upon which it is based, to a national state of emergency introducing regulations and appropriate orders within 14 days. This is perhaps characteristic of certain murky regimes to some, due to the state of lockdown and quarantine, barriers and road closures, mobile surveillance by the security services and social distancing constituting an infringement of basic constitutional rights: freedom of movement, the right to property, freedom of occupation, the right to privacy, freedom of information, freedom of religion and individual human rights. 1 WAML Governor for Israel, Former Editor in Chief of the “Medicine and Law” Journal (2000-2015), Former Chairman of the World Council of Presidents for Medical Law Organization (WAML), Represents injured parties in personal damage and medical malpractice claims. Email: davies@med-law.co.il 2 Based upon published information, the precise number of patients and deaths in China, is unknown. Med Law (2020) 39:2:225-238