Israeli court allows amputation of child’s hand against wishes of mother

Doctors at Sheba Medical Center, in Ramat Gan, Israel, amputated the hand of a child, despite her mother’s objection, after surgeons were given the go ahead by the family court in Tel Aviv. The operation was needed to remove a malignant tumour that threatened the child’s life.

The hospital reported that the operation, performed on 19 July, was successful and the girl was feeling well. The 13 year old child is the daughter of immigrants from Ethiopia, and lives with her mother in the south of Israel.

The girl and her mother sought medical care eight months ago because …