JEDDAH, 7 August 2006 — The Health Ministry is planning to establish a central databank on medical errors as part of its efforts to control the increasing number of mistakes being made by doctors and paramedics in both public and private hospitals around the country.
The databank will assist the ministry in learning what kinds of medical errors are most often made in the Kingdom, the degree of danger they pose and the actions taken against those responsible for the errors.
In a recent statement, Health Minister Dr. Hamad Al-Manie downplayed the number of medical errors in the country. In 2004, according to him, the figure was only 896 out of nearly 100 million patients who visited the Kingdom’s medical facilities. He said the ministry had increased the number of legal medical committees from eight to 14 in order to look into mistakes and take appropriate deterrent action.
However, Dr. Entessar Taylouni, a member of the medical legal committee in the Makkah region, said the complaints received by his committee were on the increase. “This does not mean medical errors in our hospitals are increasing because many of the complaints are based on unfounded claims,” he said.
“We have to differentiate between medical mistakes and complaints. People need to realize that there are side-effects for everything,” Taylouni said. “The main problem is lack of communication between the doctor and the patient. The doctor must thoroughly explain every aspect of the treatment, whether medication or surgery is required, explain the surgery, including possible complications and side-effects,” he pointed out.
The committee in the Makkah region has taken decisions on 27 cases involving patients’ deaths as a result of medical errors. In six of the cases, doctors were found guilty of fatal errors. Last year, the panel also looked into 75 cases involving doctors of private hospitals.
According to a report issued by the panel, it took action against 27 hospitals including a military hospital, two university hospitals and a private hospital. Among the doctors found guilty by the panel, nine were Saudis, four were Egyptians and one was a Filipino.
The medical errors are mainly the result of the negligence of doctors and their assistants, including nurses, in performing their duties while diagnosing a patient or providing necessary treatment.
Newspapers often carry reports of such errors on the basis of complaints received from patients’ relatives. Some mistakes, according to these reports, have caused death or permanent handicap.
