Article 23 of the Saudi AIDS Prevention Law
المادة 23 من نظام الوقاية من متلازمة العوز المناعي المكتسب الإيدز وحقوق المصابين وواجباتهم
The article punishes a person who violates Articles 4, 8, 9 and 14 with a fine not exceeding SAR 50,000, without prejudice to any more severe penalty in other regulations or to the injured person's right to compensation.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
دون إخلال بأي عقوبة أشد منصوص عليها في أنظمة أخرى، يعاقب كل من يخالف أحكام المواد (الرابعة) و(الثامنة) و(التاسعة) و(الرابعة عشرة) من النظام؛ بغرامة لا تتجاوز خمسين ألف ريال، ولا يخل ذلك بحق المتضرر في المطالبة بالتعويض.
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 23 explained in plain English
This article sets the first penalty in the Law, and concerns violation of four articles:
- Article 4: any health body refusing to provide the necessary medical care to any infected person because of the infection.
- Article 8: preventing the infected person from enjoying the rights granted under the regulations, or from continuing their education, or dismissing them from work because of their disease, unless it is proven that they deliberately transmitted infection.
- Article 9: imposing an AIDS test in cases other than those specified in it.
- Article 14: the provisions on isolating an infected person or restricting their residence in a health facility on the recommendation of the competent physician, their duty not to transmit infection, and isolating an infected convict from prisoners and providing health care to them.
The penalty: a fine not exceeding SAR 50,000.
Two important restrictions:
- "Without prejudice to any more severe penalty provided for in other regulations": if the act is punishable by a more severe penalty in another law, this article does not prevent its application.
- "This does not prejudice the injured person's right to claim compensation": the fine does not replace compensation, and the injured person may claim it.
Who detects the violation? Under Article 22, the Saudi Health Council approves the persons nominated by the public health bodies to detect violations of the Law's provisions.
Article 24 sets a more severe penalty for violating other articles, including the confidentiality of information and the prohibition of discrimination. A person harmed by a violation of these articles may consult a lawyer who specializes in civil cases and compensation.
Practical example
A private clinic in Jeddah refuses to treat a patient because of the patient's AIDS infection. Under the article, it may be punished by a fine not exceeding SAR 50,000 for violating Article 4, and the patient keeps the right to claim compensation for the harm suffered.
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 23 of the Saudi AIDS Prevention Law
What is the penalty for refusing to treat an AIDS patient?
A fine not exceeding SAR 50,000 for violating Article 4, without prejudice to any more severe penalty in other regulations.
Does the fine prevent the injured person from claiming compensation?
No. The article provides that the penalty does not prejudice the injured person's right to claim compensation.
What is the maximum fine in this article?
A fine not exceeding SAR 50,000 for anyone who violates the provisions of Articles 4, 8, 9 and 14.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 4
The article prohibits any health body from refusing to provide the necessary medical care to any infected person because of the infection.
لا يجوز لأي جهة صحية الامتناع عن تقديم الرعاية الطبية اللازمة لأي مصاب بسبب إصابته.
- Article 8
The article bars preventing a person living with the disease from their legal rights or from continuing their education, or dismissing them from work, because of the disease, unless it is proven that they deliberately transmitted infection to others.
لا يجوز منع المصاب من التمتع بالحقوق المقرة له بموجب الأنظمة، أو منعه من حق متابعة تعليمه، أو فصله من عمله بسبب مرضه؛ إلا إذا ثبت تعمده نقل العدوى إلى غيره.
- 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 14
The article allows isolating a person living with the disease or restricting their residence in a health facility on the recommendation of the competent physician if their condition requires, obliges them not to transmit infection, and requires isolating an infected convict from other prisoners.
يعزل المصاب أو تحدد إقامته في منشأة صحية - بناًء على توصية من الطبيب المختص- إذا كانت حالته توجب ذلك، وعليه الالتزام بعدم نقل العدوى إلى غيره. وإذا كان المصاب م
More articles on Penalties for Violating the AIDS Law
- Article 22
The article makes approving the persons nominated by the public health bodies to detect violations of the Law the responsibility of the Saudi Health Council.
يعتمد المجلس الصحي السعودي الأشخاص الذين ترشحهم الجهات الصحية العامة لمهمة ضبط مخالفات أحكام النظام.
- Article 24
The article punishes a person who violates Articles 6, 16, 17, 18 and 21 with a fine of up to SAR 100,000 or imprisonment of up to 5 years, or both, preserving the injured person's right to compensation.
دون إخلال بأي عقوبة أشد منصوص عليها في أنظمة أخرى، يعاقب كل من يخالف أحكام المواد (السادسة) و(السادسة عشرة) و(السابعة عشرة) و(الثامنة عشرة) و(الحادية والعشرين)
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.