A ministerial committee set up by the Ministry of Health has begun investigation into the cause of death of a citizen, who died due to alleged medical negligence in Ohud hospital in Madinah.

As part of the exercise, a member of the committee has asked the director of the hospital to prevent the doctors involved in the case from working pending completion of the probe.

Suliman Al-Sahli, the brother of the deceased, expressed hope that the committee will come up with appropriate punishment to those whose negligence led to his brother’s death.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Taifi, the director of Health Affairs Department of Madinah, confirmed that the ministerial committee had visited the hospital for investigation, but claimed that no decision had been taken to stop doctors involved in the case from working.

In a related development, the Health Affairs department slapped three doctors working in private clinics with fines totaling SR725,000 for medical negligence and committing medical errors.

Dr. Al-Taifi upheld the recommendations issued by a special committee which looks into issues of medical negligence in private medical institutions.