Article 9 of the Saudi Fertility Units Law
المادة 9 من نظام وحدات الإخصاب والأجنة وعلاج العقم · الباب الأول: أحكام عامة
The article requires fertilization units to organize sperm, eggs, zygotes and embryos precisely and to take the utmost care against mixing or substituting them, intentionally or not, with the rules left to the Implementing Regulations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجب على وحدات الإخصاب والأجنة وعلاج العقم الالتزام بالتنظيم الدقيق للنطف والبييضات واللقائح والأجنة، وتوفير أقصى درجات الحرص والاحتياط والحذر من اختلاطها أو الاستبدال بها بقصد أو دون قصد. وتحدد اللائحة التنفيذية لهذا النظام القواعد المنظمة لذلك.
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 9 explained in plain English
This article places on fertilization units a heightened duty of care in handling samples, which includes:
- Precise organization of sperm, eggs, zygotes and embryos.
- Providing the utmost care, precaution and caution against two things:
- their mixing.
- their substitution.
- This covers what happens intentionally or unintentionally, so the duty is not limited to preventing deliberate acts but extends to guarding against unintended errors.
As for the rules governing this organization and precaution, the Implementing Regulations specify them, and the text does not state them.
The terms in the article are defined in Article 1: sperm is the man's semen, the zygote is the egg fertilized by the husband's sperm cell, and the embryo is the fertilized egg divided into two or more cells in the first two weeks.
This article follows Article 8, which prohibits interfering with sex cells or genes except to treat hereditary or genetic diseases with the supervision committee's approval. It is followed by Article 10, which makes the doctor fully responsible for all damage caused by the doctor's error in treatment.
Anyone who suspects mixing or substitution in their samples may consult a lawyer specializing in health regulations.
Practical example
A fertility center in Jeddah stores the samples of a large number of couples in its laboratory. It must organize them precisely and take the utmost caution so that one couple's sample is not mixed with another's, even unintentionally, according to the rules set by the Implementing Regulations.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentCivil Litigation & Compensation lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Civil Litigation & Compensation lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Abdullah Al-Saleh Law Office for Law and Legal Consultancy
Frequently asked questions about Article 9 of the Saudi Fertility Units Law
Is a fertility center responsible for embryo mix-ups?
The article requires units to organize sperm, eggs, zygotes and embryos precisely and to take the utmost care and caution against mixing or substituting them, intentionally or not.
Does the obligation cover unintentional errors?
Yes. The article provides for caution against mixing or substitution, intentional or not.
Where do I find the rules for storing samples?
The article refers the rules governing this to the Implementing Regulations of the Law.
More articles on Spousal Consent and Identity Verification
- Article 6
The article requires explicit written consent from both spouses to the method of treatment, after they are informed of all treatment procedures, its risks and the likely results.
يجب الحصول على موافقة كتابية صريحة من الزوجين على طريقة العلاج، بعد تعريفهما بجميع إجراءات العلاج ومخاطره واحتمالات نتائجه.
- Article 7
The article requires at least two specialists of the unit to confirm that the identity and medical record number of both spouses match when collecting samples, fertilizing and transferring the zygote and embryos.
يجب التأكد من قبل اثنين على الأقل من المختصين بوحدة الإخصاب والأجنة وعلاج العقم من تطابق الهوية ورقم السجل الطبي لكلا الزوجين عند جمع العينات والإخصاب ونقل اللق
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.