By Ibrahim Alawi

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — The Ministry of Health has warned government and private hospitals against delaying to deal with or refusing to accept emergency cases and said such an act would entail heavy punishment.

"The hospitals should immediately accept and treat emergency cases then inform the concerned security and health officials," the ministry said in a circular.

It said the health practitioner should first deal with the case then inform the concerned security or health authorities if the patient is subjected to a criminal act or he/she is having a contagious disease.

"If a practitioner is aware that the emergency case is critical or that his/her life is endangered, he should provide them with the required medical treatment and closely follow up their health condition until they are out of danger," it said.

The ministry defined the emergency case as a threat to the life of the patient or to one of his/her organs and said this also include dealing with psychiatric cases, family violence and others.

The ministry said any administrative procedures should be delayed until the emergency case is provided with the required treatment to save his/her life.