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Find out moreWelcome to the Saudi Arabia focus edition of Law Update.
One of the key markets in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) that continues to lead from the front is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). As the largest country in the Middle East and the 18th largest economy in the world, the progress KSA continues to make is underpinned by its Vision 2030 that envisions developing the country as an investment powerhouse and hub that ultimately connects Asia, Europe, and Africa. Given Saudi Arabia’s significance to the regional economy, our team of experts have prepared a range of pertinent articles that provide insights into new laws, regulations, and the legal landscape in the Kingdom.
This edition will provide you with an up-to-date guide on matters such as; the framework issued by the Saudi Central Bank on IT governance, the anti-corruption landscape under Vision 2030; we also provide practical tips for dispute avoidance. This is only a snapshot; there are many more articles within the KSA focus section for you to read, which we hope you will find valuable and enjoyable.
Read the editionThe new UAE Cabinet Resolution no. 40 of 2019 (“Resolution”) provides necessary additional details to implement the provisions of the Medical Liability Law (Federal Law Decree No (4) of 2016 concerning medical liability), with regard to:
Herein, we highlight a few of the key provisions.
The new Resolution sets out the circumstances in which it is considered that a medical practitioner (for example, a physician) has committed a “gross medical error”. Article 5 of the Resolution states:
Medical error is considered to be “gross” if it causes the patient or the fetus death, amputation of a body limb, loss of the body part function, or any other gross damage, in addition to the existence of any of the following factors, as a result of which the medical error is committed:
Prior to the issuance of the Medical Liability Law, physicians who were determined to have committed any malpractice were also potentially liable for criminal medical negligence. After the issuance of the Medical Liability law and Resolution, which includes the definition of gross medical error, only those physicians who are determined to have committed “gross negligence”, and not merely “negligence”, can be held liable for criminal medical negligence.
The Resolution also sets out the terms and conditions of providing remote health services. This clarification of the law has been eagerly awaited. The key definitions of “Remote Health Services” as per the Resolution are as follows:
Of key importance is that this Resolution provides necessary additional details regarding how the provisions of the Medical Liability Law (Federal Law No (4) of 2016) should be implemented. In particular, the Resolution helpfully sets out the circumstances in which a physician has committed “gross negligence” and, hence, may be criminally liable. We anticipate that this will decrease the number of complaints related to medical errors referred to the criminal courts.
Should you require any advice concerning medical errors or to obtain clarifications concerning the Resolution or the Medical Liability Law, we would be happy to assist. In a forthcoming Law Update article, we will expand upon this development.
Ahmed Allouz
Partner, Head of Litigation – Dubai
a.allouz@tamimi.com
Mohamed Al Marzouqi
Partner, Head of Litigation – Abu Dhabi
m.almarzouqi@tamimi.com
Andrea Tithecott
Partner, Head of Regulatory and Healthcare
a.tithecott@tamimi.com
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