The Ministry of Health has established a Forensic Medical Board to deal with medical error cases.
Khalid Al-Mirghalani, the ministry’s spokesman, told Arab News yesterday that the board would function as a parent body to other branches that are being set up in all major cities in the Kingdom. He added that plans are under way to establish a forensic medical committee in Bisha shortly.
Al-Mirghalani explained that the forensic medical centers dispersed across different parts of the Kingdom have been provided with specialists in the relevant discipline.
Forensic medicine is a multidisciplinary field, which combines medical, social, and judicial analysis, provides practical expertise and describes cases from a scientific point of view.
He said that the board would operate as a legal body to look into cases of medical malpractice and medical error complaints filed by citizens.
The Forensic Medical Board will also provide its branches with a special forensic kit to facilitate clinical tests for cases of sexual abuse.
Munirah bint Hamdan Al-Osaimi, assistant undersecretary of the ministry for medical services, said the forensic medicine department at the ministry has been active in providing fellowships to health officials who work under the program.
“The fellowship in forensic medicine program awards a specialist certificate on forensic medicine, which is equivalent to a postgraduate degree,” she noted.
Some 15 male and female Saudi physicians were admitted in the 2012 program, thereby bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 51 physicians in different specialties, she said.
The forensic medicine department has also contributed to the master’s degree program on toxins and narcotics, which is being awarded by Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS), she said.
She added that the department had also participated in the work of the Scientific Committee of Chemical Safety (SCCS) through a workshop, which focused on cases of chemical and drug poisoning.
In an earlier statement, Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said the ministry is keen on working to prevent medical errors and “will take necessary action against those proven guilty of such mistakes.”
MoH sets up board to check medical errors
