Article 15 of the Saudi AIDS Prevention Law
المادة 15 من نظام الوقاية من متلازمة العوز المناعي المكتسب الإيدز وحقوق المصابين وواجباتهم
The article obliges health bodies to test a suspected person to ensure they are free of AIDS and provide health care to them, requires notifying the National Program if they refuse testing, and refers the procedures to the Implementing Regulations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على الجهات الصحية إجراء الفحص على المشتبه فيه, للتأكد من خلوه من الإيدز, وتقديم الرعاية الصحية له, لضمان عدم انتقال المرض إلى غيره, فإن رفض المشتبه فيه إجراء الفحص يبلَّغ البرنامج الوطني في الوزارة بذلك. وتحدد اللائحة الإجراءات اللازم اتخاذها في هذه الحالة.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 15 explained in plain English
This article regulates dealing with a suspected person, who under Article 1 is a person whose signs of infection with AIDS are probable.
First: duties of the health bodies
- Testing the suspected person to ensure they are free of AIDS.
- Providing health care to them.
The purpose the text states is to ensure the disease is not transmitted to others.
Second: if the suspected person refuses testing
The National Program at the Ministry is notified. Under Article 1, the National Program is the National AIDS Control Program at the Ministry of Health.
Third: what the article refers to the Implementing Regulations
The Regulations set the procedures to be taken if the suspected person refuses testing. The article itself does not provide for forcing the suspected person to be tested, and does not specify what follows from their refusal; it only requires notification and leaves the procedures to the Regulations.
Relation to other articles:
- Article 14 regulates isolating an infected person or restricting their residence in a health facility on the recommendation of the competent physician if their condition requires it.
- Article 16 obliges all workers in health bodies and others to keep confidential the information of the infected person.
A person who is asked to be tested as a suspected person and has a question about their rights may consult a lawyer who specializes in health regulations.
Practical example
A man visits a clinic in Taif, and symptoms appear that lead the physician to consider it probable that he has AIDS. Under the article, the health body must test him to make sure and provide health care to him. If he refuses testing, the National Program at the Ministry is notified, and the procedures set by the Implementing Regulations are followed.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 15 of the Saudi AIDS Prevention Law
What happens if a suspected person refuses an AIDS test?
The National Program at the Ministry is notified, and the Implementing Regulations set the procedures to be taken.
Who is a suspected person under the AIDS law?
A person whose signs of infection with AIDS are probable, according to the definition in Article 1.
More articles on AIDS Testing and Reporting Infection
- Article 5
The article tasks the National Program with activating prevention, care and treatment and designating reference laboratories, and requires health bodies to send suspected samples to them and to report all infected cases to the Ministry confidentially.
1- يقوم البرنامج الوطني - بالتنسيق مع الجهات الصحية الأخرى - بتفعيل إجراءات الوقاية والرعاية والتأهيل، وتحديد المختبرات المرجعية للتشخيص، والتثبت من الإصابة بال
- Article 9
The article bars imposing an AIDS test except in specific cases, including applicants to health colleges, health and military jobs, pre-marital checks and pregnant women, without prejudice to Article 13.
مع عدم الإخلال بما ورد في المادة (الثالثة عشرة) من هذا النظام، لا يجوز فرض اختبار الإيدز إلا في الحالات الآتية: 1- المتقدمين للكليات والمعاهد الصحية المدنية وال
- Article 13
The article obliges the Ministry of Health to take the necessary measures to test those coming to the Kingdom for work or residence to ensure they are free of AIDS, and refers the testing procedures and their effects to the Implementing Regulations.
مع عدم الإخلال بالإجراءات المتبعة خارج المملكة لفحص الراغبين في القدوم للعمل أو الإقامة في المملكة, تتخذ الوزارة الإجراءات اللازمة لفحص القادمين إلى المملكة بقص
- Article 20
The article obliges the Ministry of Health and other health bodies to take the measures needed to encourage individuals to take voluntary AIDS tests, as a step toward early intervention and control.
تتخذ الوزارة والجهات الصحية الأخرى الإجراءات اللازمة لتشجيع الأفراد على إجراء الفحوص الطوعية للكشف عن الإصابة بالإيدز بين أفراد المجتمع حتى يُمكِن اتخاذ التدابي
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.