Saudi Gazette report
DAMMAM — The Shariah Medical Commission obliged a doctor to pay SR310,000 in fines and blood money for causing the death of a journalist, Al-Madinah reported.
The journalist, Mohammad Dhaifallah Al-Thubaiti, died due to a medical error at King Fahd Specialist Hospital in Dammam in March 2015.
The journalist was admitted to the hospital to undergo a simple operation.
The journalist’s initial health condition was stable but he soon began to feel suffocated. The doctors tried to install an oxygen tube down his mouth but did not do it correctly which resulted in him having a heart attack because the blood did not reach his brain. His family are demanding to be compensated for his death.
Lawyer Humoud Al-Khaldi said the Shariah Medical Commission has investigated the death and concluded that it was caused by a medical error.
“The commission ordered the doctor to pay the family of the deceased SR300,000 in blood money and also pay SR10,000 as a fine for committing a medical error. The fine will go to the treasury as it is considered a penalty for the violation of a public right,” said Al-Khaldi.
He added the commission’s verdict is only an initial one as all parties involved have 60 days to appeal the verdict.
