Before he died • This is how a Haredi doctor from Beit Shemesh saved a taxi driver

April 8, 2014   

Beit Shemesh, Saturday night about a week and a half ago, 11 p.m. Dr. David Burns, 35, a general practitioner, Haredi, finished a shift at the 'Trem' clinic in the city and, as usual, called a taxi to return home. The sequence of events, under private supervision, is reported today by the newspaper 'Yediot Aharonot'. A few minutes later, the taxi arrived. The driver, Yigal Masheli, 44, a resident of the city, married and father of a child, began the journey and took advantage of the fact that the passenger was a doctor to consult with him about his health problems. "Listen, lately I've been having chest pains and I'm a little worried because there have been several cases of heart attacks in my family in the past," he told him. "Where exactly does it hurt?" Dr. Burns asked alertly. Masheli pointed to a spot on his chest, and the doctor became alarmed and shouted: "You're having a heart attack right now. Go to the hospital immediately, you need to have a catheterization." In the meantime, the taxi arrived at the doctor's house, and before he got out, he convinced Masheli to go immediately for a checkup. The driver returned to the clinic from which he had picked up the doctor, had a blood test - and was urgently sent by ambulance to Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem. An examination revealed that one of his two coronary arteries was suffering from a 99% blockage, and therefore he was rushed for immediate catheterization. Thanks to this, his life was saved. "If Yigal had waited, it is likely that he would not have even had the opportunity to celebrate the Seder," said Dr. Burns - who actually saved his life. Last Shabbat evening, when he left his night shift, a huge surprise awaited Dr. Burns: Masheli, who had recovered in the meantime, was waiting for him outside, along with his wife and son. The family members thanked the doctor warmly and gave him a gift for Passover.