Thursday, November 28 2002

Hatzalah skirmish Spirals out of Control

By GIMPEL the SHISTER, HasidicNews.com Writer

WILLIAMSBURG (HN) - Recent conflicts within the ranks of the emergency medical voluntter organization "Hatzalah" have been threatening its ability to efficiantly provide the emergency services to the community.

Hatzalah branches exist within virtually every major Orthodox community in Brooklyn. Its members are usually trained as EMT's and respond voluntarilly to medical emergency calls within their neighberhood.

Last summer, when a car accident occured in the Catskills, Hatzalah dispatchers transmitted a call to all units requesting that a paramedic respond to the scene. After requesting a couple of times, without receiving any response, Mr. Abraham stern responded without notifying the dispatchers. Mr. Binet eventually responded to the same call too, only to realize that Stern is already there and treating the victim. Out of immense outrage that Stern did not notify the dispatchers that he is responding, Binet blocked Stern's the emergency vehicle from leaving the scene.

Central Hatzalah immediately suspended Binet, who lives year-round in Williamsburg, for this act. Williamsburg was subsequently left without a certified paramedic, and Hatzalah mambers started complaining about this. Harry Kahan, an EMT, eventually quit, claiming that he can not do his job, since there are no paramedic's during the day.

Central Hatzalah came under intense pressure, and decided hire a qualified paramedic from the nearby Boro Park community, and pay him to respond to calls in Williamsburg. Williamsburg Hatzalah coordinators were outraged at this. They said Central should not hire someone from the outside when there is someone living in Williamsbur who is qualified and willing to respond to calls.

Williamsburg Hatzalah coordinators gathered a "psak" (Halachic verdict) from local Rabbanim requiring that binet be reinstated, which Central Hatzalah apprently accepted at first. However, when Dr Friedman, employed by Central Hatzalah, who was supposed to deliver a lecture to Williamsburg Hatzalah members, didn't show up, Williamsburg coordinators became furious. The Dr. claimed that he was ordered not to go, while Michal Hendler, who presumably issued the order, claimed that he just said "since the matter isn't resolved yet, you don't have to go".

Eventually, A Queens Hatzalah member took Binet under his license, so that he can respond to calls again.