Medical errors in Saudi Arabia are heard by the Sharia Health Committee under the Health Professions Practice Law, which can award compensation and discipline practitioners.
When is harm an error?
Medicine is a duty of care, not a guarantee of cure. It is an error when the practitioner departs from accepted professional standards:
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Diagnosis | Missing necessary tests |
| Treatment | Wrong drug or dose, improper procedure |
| Follow-up | Ignoring known complications |
| Consent | No informed consent |
| Licensing | Acting outside licence or specialty |
Complaint steps
- Request your full medical file.
- Write a timeline.
- File through official health channels; it is investigated and referred to the committee.
- The committee rules on compensation and discipline; its decisions can be challenged before the Board of Grievances.
Claims are subject to time limits; do not delay.
Compensation
Set diya amounts for injury or disability (read diya), extra treatment costs and proven losses, based on the final medical report.
Frequently asked questions
Is a private hospital liable together with the doctor?
The hospital may be liable for the errors of its staff and for shortcomings in its equipment, and many practitioners carry malpractice insurance.
I signed a consent form. Have I lost my right?
No. Consenting to a procedure does not excuse an error in carrying it out, although it matters if the complication was one of the risks explained to you.
Harmed by a medical error?
Usus Law Firm handles malpractice cases as part of quasi-judicial committees, in Riyadh and Tabuk, and advises in English.
This article is general legal information and is not a substitute for advice on your specific case. Court proceedings in Saudi Arabia are in Arabic; the official Arabic text of each law prevails.
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