Article 25 of the Saudi Healthcare Professions Practice Law
المادة 25 من نظام مزاولة المهن الصحية
The article requires a healthcare practitioner who replaces a colleague in treating their patients not to exploit that position for personal benefit and to refrain from anything that harms the colleague.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجب على الممارس الصحي الذي يحل محل زميل له في علاج مرضاه أن يمتنع عن استغلال هذا الوضع لمصلحته الشخصية، وأن يترفع عن كل ما يسيء إليه في ممارسة مهنته.
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 25 explained in plain English
This article addresses a common situation in healthcare work: a healthcare practitioner replaces a colleague in treating their patients, for example covering their absence on leave, travel or illness.
In this situation the substitute practitioner is bound by two things:
- To refrain from exploiting this position for personal benefit, so they do not use their access to the colleague's patients to win them for themselves or to gain a private benefit.
- To rise above anything that harms the colleague in the practice of their profession.
The article is a specific application of the general rule in Article 24, which requires relations among practitioners to rest on cooperation and mutual trust, and prohibits scheming against a colleague, belittling them, and trying to attract the patients being treated by them or turn them away. The substitute practitioner is in a position of trust, because their colleague entrusted them with their patients, and the Law protects this trust.
The article places no restrictions on the patient's own freedom, but addresses the substitute practitioner and their conduct. It is followed by Article 26, which provides that the healthcare practitioner's obligation is an obligation to exercise vigilant care consistent with accepted scientific principles. Anyone harmed by the conduct of a colleague who replaced them may consult a lawyer specialized in healthcare practice and medical malpractice cases.
Practical example
A pediatrician in Jeddah traveled for a month, and a female colleague covered his clinic. During the month she began giving parents the number of her own clinic and advising them to move to her. This is exploiting her replacement of the colleague for her personal benefit, which the article prohibits.
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 25 of the Saudi Healthcare Professions Practice Law
What is the duty of a doctor who covers for an absent colleague?
To refrain from exploiting this position for personal benefit and to rise above anything that harms the colleague in the practice of their profession.
May a substitute doctor take the colleague's patients for themselves?
They may not exploit replacing the colleague for personal benefit, and Article 24 also prohibits trying to attract the colleague's patients.
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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.