The court in Jerusalem confirmed the five-year deprivation of the license of gynecologist Guy Rofe

In October 2026, the Jerusalem District Court rejected an appeal by Israeli gynecologist Guy Rofe and upheld the Health Ministry's decision to strip him of his medical license for five years. This decision was not only the result of a long disciplinary proceedings, but also an important legal precedent: for the first time in Israel, a court explicitly stated that a doctor could not refuse to provide medical documents, citing the right not to testify against himself.

The case began in the summer of 2024, when Guy Rofe, a well-known gynecologist and popular blogger, was charged with sexual offences against a patient. Within two weeks of the indictment, Rofe attempted to reopen his clinic, prompting criticism in the professional community and society. The Ministry of Health promptly initiated disciplinary proceedings, and an independent disciplinary commission in December 2024 recommended limiting the practice of the doctor, but not stripping him of his license completely. However, the Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Sefi Mandelovich, made a tougher decision to suspend the license for six months, which was confirmed by the court in February 2025.

In November 2025, a formal disciplinary action was filed against Rofe for “indecent conduct” against two patients, and in December of the same year, Judge Amnon Strashnov, in charge of disciplinary decisions at the Ministry of Health, ruled on a five-year deprivation of the license. In October 2026, the district court finally rejected Rofe's appeal, stressing that his actions - including refusing to provide medical records and continuing to publicly position himself as a doctor after being stripped of his license - were inconsistent with professional ethics and undermined public trust in the medical system.

Of particular importance is the legal position of the court on the issue of medical records. For the first time in Israeli practice, the court pointed out that medical records are not personal documents of a doctor, but are required to be maintained and stored by law (the Patient Rights Act 1996, the Medical Professions Act 1976). They are therefore not subject to the privilege against self-incrimination enshrined in Israeli evidence law. The Court noted that the refusal of a doctor to provide such documents could not be justified by reference to the risk of prosecution, since these records served the public interest of protecting patients and monitoring by the state.

Israel’s Ministry of Health, commenting on the decision, reiterated its zero-tolerance policy for sexual offences and professional ethics violations, vowing to closely monitor the enforcement of the court’s decision and respond promptly to any attempts to violate disciplinary measures. According to The Jerusalem Post, the decision set an important legal precedent, and Ynetnews emphasizes that Rofe is now officially prohibited from presenting himself as a doctor or conducting medical activities for the duration of his license revocation

Analyzing the situation, we can assume that this precedent will strengthen the control over the observance of professional standards in Israeli medicine and become a reference point for future disciplinary cases. The legal framework, which includes the Patient Rights Act, the Medical Professions Act, and the evidence provisions, is now interpreted unequivocally: the interests of patients and society take precedence over the personal interests of the physician. In the coming years, we can expect a tightening of disciplinary practices and increased transparency in the medical field, which, according to experts, should strengthen public confidence in the health care system.

A brief chronology of the Guy Rofe case:

Date Event

June 2024 Charge of Sexual Offences

June 2024 Initiation of disciplinary proceedings by the Ministry of Health

December 2024 Commission recommendation to limit practice but not revoke license

December 2024 The decision to suspend the license for 6 months

February 2025 Court confirms suspension

November 2025 Official disciplinary action

December 2025 Five-year revocation decision

October 2026 Court finally dismisses appeal, sets legal precedent

Conclusion: The court’s decision in the case of Guy Rofe was a milestone for Israeli medicine law and society.