Article 24 of the Saudi Healthcare Professions Practice Law
المادة 24 من نظام مزاولة المهن الصحية
The article requires relations among healthcare practitioners to rest on cooperation and trust, and prohibits scheming against a colleague, belittling them, repeating harmful rumors, or attracting their patients or staff.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجب أن تقوم العلاقات بين الممارس الصحي وغيره من الممارسين الصحيين على أساس من التعاون والثقة المتبادلة.
ويحظر على الممارس الصحي الكيد لزميله، أو الانتقاص من مكانته العلمية أو الأدبية، أو ترديد الإشاعات التي تسيء إليه، كما يحظر عليه محاولة اجتذاب المرضى الذين يعالجون لدى زميله، أو العاملين معه، أو صرفهم عنه بطريق مباشر أو غير مباشر.
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 24 explained in plain English
This article regulates the professional relationship among healthcare practitioners. The starting principle it sets is that these relationships rest on cooperation and mutual trust.
The article then sets out acts prohibited to the healthcare practitioner toward a colleague:
- Scheming against the colleague.
- Belittling their scientific or moral standing.
- Repeating rumors that harm them.
- Trying to attract the patients being treated by the colleague, or those working with them.
- Trying to turn patients or staff away from them.
The last prohibition covers what is done directly or indirectly. The practitioner need not contact the colleague's patients personally, as what is done through intermediaries or by devious methods falls within the prohibition.
The article protects practitioners from unfair competition, and also protects patients from becoming the subject of a contest between practitioners. It does not prevent a patient from choosing another practitioner themselves, as it is directed at the practitioner's conduct and not the patient's freedom.
It is followed by Article 25, which requires a practitioner who replaces a colleague in treating their patients not to exploit that for personal benefit, and preceded by Article 23 on the pharmacist's prohibitions. Anyone who suffered professional harm from a colleague may consult a lawyer specialized in healthcare practice and medical malpractice cases.
Practical example
A dentist opened a new clinic in Khobar and began calling the patients of a nearby colleague's clinic and telling them the colleague is not competent, to persuade them to move to him. This act combines belittling the colleague's standing with trying to attract his patients, and both are prohibited under the article.
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 24 of the Saudi Healthcare Professions Practice Law
May a doctor speak ill of a colleague in front of patients?
No. They are prohibited from scheming against a colleague, belittling their scientific or moral standing, or repeating rumors that harm them.
May a doctor attract another doctor's patients?
No. They are prohibited from trying to attract the patients being treated by a colleague or those working with them, or turning them away from the colleague, directly or indirectly.
More articles on Relations Between Healthcare Practitioners
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.