The Directorate General of Health Affairs in the Eastern Province has opened an investigation into the circumstances that led to Saudi journalist Mohammad Al-Thubaiti going into coma after undergoing a minor procedure recently.

The procedure involved the removal of an abscess from his thigh, but his health deteriorated and some medical sources pointed to a probable medical error.

Salman, Mohammad's brother, told local media that his brother was admitted to the emergency ward of Dammam Central Hospital for removal of the abscess. "When he left the operation room he was admitted to the recovery section and all his health and medical indicators pointed to a successful surgery. But minutes after he woke up, he suffered from suffocation and difficulty in breathing.

The medical staff worked hard to save him but his heart stopped beating for a few minutes. Thankfully, specialist doctors revived his heartbeat but he went into coma. He remains in this state until today," Salman said. He filed a complaint with the Eastern Province health department about the matter.

Khaled Al-Usaimi, spokesman for the health department in the Eastern Province, said that the Director General of Health Affairs in the Eastern Province, Khalid AlShaibani, ordered the constitution of an investigation committee to look into the health condition of Mohammad, affirming that anyone found responsible for any medical error will be punished in accordance with the applicable regulations with full transparency.

"AlShaibani is personally following up on the health condition and treatment of Mohammad," added the spokesman. AlShaibani tweeted on his Twitter account wishing the speedy recovery of Mohammad and all other patients, noting that a medical committee is supervising and following up on Mohammad's condition.

A medical source confirmed to local media that all of Mohammad's vital indicators are stable, saying that the next few hours are crucial to determining his condition.

The source said that experts fear that Mohammad might have suffered minor brain damage and that neurosurgeons and internal medicine specialists are supervising his condition.

Mohammad's family members are awaiting the special medical report to refer it to other medical consultants and specialists at other hospitals. They said the medical reports will be posted on the Health Ministry's electronic system, Ehala, which links all hospitals across the Kingdom.

Journalists across the country posted Hashtags on social networking sites demanding the intervention of the Health Ministry and the governor of the Eastern Province to open an immediate investigation into the incident.