A major investigation published by The Australian has uncovered allegations of widespread antisemitism within Australia’s healthcare system, with Jewish patients and medical professionals describing a climate of fear that has intensified since the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre in Israel.

The report, based on dozens of interviews with doctors, nurses, psychologists, and Jewish patients, alleges that some healthcare workers refused to treat Jewish or Israeli patients, while others made antisemitic or political remarks during medical care.

According to the investigation, many Jewish patients have begun concealing their identities by removing Magen David necklaces or even changing the names listed in hospital records out of fear they could receive inferior treatment. Senior physicians told the newspaper that some patients removed visible Jewish symbols before surgery, fearing surgeons or anesthesiologists might identify them as Jewish while they were unconscious.

One of the most serious incidents involved two staff members at Blacktown Hospital in Sydney who were suspended after posting threatening videos on social media. One allegedly declared he would refuse to treat Israeli patients, while the other claimed he had “killed Israeli patients before.” The incident prompted a police investigation and widespread condemnation from New South Wales health officials.

The investigation also alleges that internal online forums used by Australian healthcare workers circulated “blacklists” of Jewish doctors, accompanied by calls to professionally boycott them and file false complaints with Australia’s medical regulator, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), in an effort to revoke their licenses.

Several Jewish patients shared troubling personal accounts. Charlotte Freiman, the daughter of an Auschwitz survivor, said a nurse repeatedly attempted to insert an IV after noticing her religion was listed as Judaism, causing severe bruising and pain. Another patient described repeated unsuccessful IV attempts before another staff member completed the procedure immediately.

A Jewish midwife recounted the case of a woman left for hours after a Caesarean section without pain medication while lying in a pool of blood as her newborn cried beside her. Another patient said a nurse lectured her in intensive care while denying both the Holocaust and the October 7 massacre.

The report also describes growing concerns over hospital staff wearing pro-Palestinian political symbols, including pins and keffiyehs, while on duty. One Holocaust survivor reportedly became terrified upon seeing a nurse wearing prominent pro-Palestinian insignia while treating her in a public hospital.

Jewish doctors and nurses interviewed for the investigation said they have stopped discussing Jewish holidays at work, removed religious symbols, and avoided mentioning family simchos out of concern for professional retaliation. Some senior physicians said they ultimately left major public hospitals after administrators failed to address repeated harassment by colleagues.

The investigation further criticizes AHPRA and hospital administrators, alleging that complaints of antisemitism were routinely dismissed or treated as personal disputes rather than incidents of discrimination. It also claims that Jewish or pro-Israel healthcare professionals faced disciplinary proceedings for defending Israel or challenging accusations of “genocide,” while complaints against staff accused of posting antisemitic or pro-Hamas content often resulted in little or no action.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)