JEDDAH, 29 October 2003 — The Department of Health has fined a Jeddah hospital SR10,000 for allowing one of its doctors to leave the country without the department’s permission. According to a report in Al-Madinah newspaper, department officials had told the doctor not to leave the country because he was under investigation for causing permanent damage to a Saudi patient. Dr. Samir Linjawi, the department director, said the department would pursue all allegations of malpractice and punish those responsible.