Article 31 of the Saudi Healthcare Professions Practice Law
المادة 31 من نظام مزاولة المهن الصحية
The article makes the healthcare practitioner subject to disciplinary accountability if they breach their duties under the Law, violate the principles of their profession, or act contrary to its requirements or ethics, without prejudice to criminal or civil liability.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع عدم الإخلال بأحكام المسؤولية الجزائية أو المدنية، يكون الممارس الصحي محلًّا للمساءلة التأديبية إذا أخل بأحد واجباته المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام، أو خالف أصول مهنته، أو كان في تصرفه ما يعد خروجًا على مقتضيات مهنته أو آدابها.
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 31 explained in plain English
This article establishes the healthcare practitioner's disciplinary liability, a kind of professional accountability that differs from criminal penalties and civil compensation.
The healthcare practitioner is subject to disciplinary accountability in three cases:
- If they breach one of their duties provided for in the Law.
- If they violate the principles of their profession.
- If their conduct amounts to a departure from the requirements or ethics of their profession.
The second and third cases are wider than merely violating a specific provision. A practitioner may be held disciplinarily accountable for conduct that violates the principles or ethics of the profession even if no express provision addresses it.
The article begins with the phrase "without prejudice to criminal or civil liability". This means disciplinary accountability does not prevent holding the practitioner criminally liable or claiming compensation from them for the same act if their conditions are met, as the types of liability may combine on a single act.
It is followed by Article 32, which sets the disciplinary penalties: a warning, a fine not exceeding SAR 10,000, and cancellation of the license and removal of the name from the register of licensees. It is preceded by Article 30, which punishes with a fine not exceeding SAR 20,000 any violation of the Law or its Regulations with no specific provision. Anyone facing disciplinary accountability or wishing to file a complaint may consult a lawyer specialized in healthcare practice and medical malpractice cases.
Practical example
A nurse at a hospital in Riyadh treats patients in an insulting manner and deliberately delays giving medicines on time. This conduct may be considered a departure from the requirements and ethics of the profession, making him subject to disciplinary accountability, without that preventing his criminal or civil accountability if their conditions are met.
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 31 of the Saudi Healthcare Professions Practice Law
When is a healthcare practitioner held disciplinarily accountable?
If they breach one of their duties provided for in the Law, violate the principles of their profession, or their conduct departs from the requirements or ethics of their profession.
Does disciplinary accountability prevent suing the doctor?
No. The article provides that disciplinary accountability is without prejudice to criminal or civil liability.
More articles on Disciplining the Healthcare Practitioner
- Article 32
The article sets the disciplinary penalties: a warning, a fine not exceeding SAR 10,000, and cancellation of the license and removal of the name; a new license may not be applied for until two years after cancellation.
العقوبات التأديبية التي يجوز توقيعها في حالة المخالفات المهنية هي : 1 - الإنذار. 2 - غرامة مالية لا تتجاوز عشرة آلاف ريال. 3 - إلغاء الترخيص بمزاولة المهنة الصح
- Article 38
The article makes violations arising from applying the Law, apart from the Health Sharia Authority's jurisdictions, a matter for committees formed by the Minister, and allows a grievance before the Board of Grievances within sixty days.
فيما عدا الاختصاصات المنصوص عليها ( للهيئة الصحية الشرعية)، تنظر المخالفات الناشئة عن تطبيق هذا النظام- لجان تشكل بقرار من الوزير المختص، ويراعى في تشكيل هذه ال
- Article 39
The article allows the Minister to order the temporary suspension of a practitioner when there are evidence and indications of a violation punishable by license cancellation, while ensuring patient care, and allows a grievance before the Board of Grievances within thirty days.
للوزير أن يأمر بالإيقاف المؤقت عن مزاولة المهنة الصحية، وللمدة التي يراها مناسبة، في حق أي ممارس صحي مرخص له، وذلك عند وجود أدلة و قرائن دالة على مخالفة تكون عق
- Article 40
The article refers to the Implementing Regulations the rules and procedures needed to hear violations and cases arising from applying the Law, and the ways of deciding them.
تحدد اللائحة التنفيذية القواعد والإجراءات اللازمة للنظر في المخالفات والقضايا الناشئة عن تطبيق هذا النظام وطرق البت فيها.
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.