Filing a Complaint Against Psychologists

The Psychologists Law, 1977 (Hebrew), lists the disciplinary violations for which complaints against psychologists (Section 33 of the Law) can be filed and discusses the appointment of a Complaints Committee to investigate the complaint and determine whether to turn the complaint over to a disciplinary proceeding (Section 37 of the Law).

Disciplinary violations include, inter alia, inappropriate behavior, serious malpractice.

Who can file a complaint

• Patients of psychologists.
• Guardians of the patients.
• Attorney-in-fact of the patients (using a power of attorney).
• Any party who was exposed to the violation and who wishes to bring the suspected disciplinary violation of the psychologists to the Committee’s attention.

How to file a complaint

You can contact the Ministry of Health in one of the following ways:

• Online form (Hebrew)
• Telephone: call *5400 or 08-6241010
• Fax: send to 02-5655969

Committee for Complaints against Psychologists

Mail – send to the following address: Ministry of Health, the Medical Professions Ombudsperson (for the Committee for Complaints against Psychologists), 39 Yirmiyahu St, P.O Box 1176, Jerusalem Zip Code 9101002

The following details must be specified in the complaint:

• Contact details of the applicant:
  • First and last name.
  • Mailing address.
  • Telephone – preferably mobile phone.
  • Email address.
• Frist and last name of the psychologists who are the subject of the complaint (the complainees), preferably with their I.D. number or license number.
• Description of the complaint – the complaint must be exhaustive and clear, and have relevant documents attached (in an organized and consolidated manner).
• The submission must be in Hebrew. If attachments are in English, submit a translation into Hebrew with the original.

The service is provided free of charge

Stages of the complaint review

1. Upon receiving a complaint, an investigation is conducted to determine whether the complainees who are subject of the complaint meet any of the following conditions:
   • Registered in the Psychologists Registry.
   • Registered as temporary intern.
   • In the midst a practical trial period as psychology students (who according to the Psychologists Law, are still subject to the disciplinary laws even prior to being registered in the Registry).
2. If the complainees do not satisfy one of the categories: the Committee will announce the closing of the complaint due to lack of authority to hear the complaint.
   If the complainees satisfy one of the categories:
   • The defendants will receive confirmation of receipt of a complaint by the Committee.
   • A letter will be sent to the complainees, requesting their response to the suspicions made against them.
3. Upon receipt of a complainee's response, and taking into account the entire circumstances, any complaint that involves a suspected disciplinary violation will be sent to the Committee. The Committee will investigate the complaint, including a request to add documents or information from the parties (and third parties), including conversations with the applicants and clarification discussions with the complainees, or any other measure based on the circumstances.
4. If the Committee concludes that under the circumstances there is no need to pass the complaint on to the disciplinary committee, the parties will be informed of the decision.
5. If the Committee finds that a complainee committed a disciplinary violation that warrants further investigation, a decision will be made by a full panel to bring the complainees before the disciplinary committee and will send its decision to the parties.
6. The decision will be sent to the disciplinary unit to conduct a proceeding before the disciplinary committee.
7. The disciplinary committee will update the complainants as needed during the proceeding.
8. In the end of the disciplinary proceeding, the complainants will be updated on the disciplinary committee’s decision.
9. A copy of the decision will be sent to the Psychologists Registry Director and entered into the complainants' files, and based on the decision, necessary measures will be taken (and published).

Complaint processing time

• The Committee will conduct a thorough investigation that involves many stages that depend on other parties. It is not possible to guarantee a decision will be reached within a specific period.
• At the same time, the committee periodically updates the parties on the status of the case.