Article 19 of the Saudi Mental Health Law
المادة 19 من نظام الرعاية الصحية النفسية
Electroconvulsive therapy requires explicit, free written consent from the patient or his guardian after being told its nature, purpose, side effects and alternatives.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
إذا تقرر احتياج المريض النفسي إلى العلاج بالصدمات الكهربائية، تعين الحصول على موافقته - أو وليه - الكتابية الصريحة المبنية على إرادة حرة، بعد إحاطته علماً بطبيعة العلاج بالصدمات الكهربائية، والغرض منه، وآثاره الجانبية. والبدائل العلاجية المتاحة. وتوضح اللائحة الإجراءات اللازمة لاستخدام العلاج بالصدمات الكهربائية.
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 19 explained in plain English
This Article concerns one specific type of treatment, electroconvulsive therapy, and sets special safeguards for it.
When does it apply? When it is decided that the mental patient needs this treatment.
What is required? Obtaining the consent of the patient or his guardian, which must be:
- Written, so oral consent is not enough.
- Explicit, so implied or general consent is not enough.
- Based on free will, meaning without pressure or coercion.
When is consent requested? After the patient or his guardian has been informed of four things:
- The nature of electroconvulsive therapy.
- Its purpose.
- Its side effects.
- The treatment alternatives available.
The Implementing Regulations set out the procedures needed to use this treatment.
The practical benefit is that the patient or his guardian may ask about alternatives before signing, and that consent taken without informing him of these matters does not meet what the Article requires. This ties in with Article 18, which requires the medical team to record electroconvulsive therapy and its procedures in the patient's file.
If you have a specific case, it is best to consult a lawyer who specializes in health regulations and patients' rights.
Practical example
The physician decided that a patient in Riyadh with severe depression needed electroconvulsive therapy. Before starting, he explained to her and her guardian the nature of the treatment, its purpose, its side effects and the available alternatives, and then obtained her explicit written consent without pressure.
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 19 of the Saudi Mental Health Law
Is electroconvulsive therapy allowed without the patient's consent?
The Article requires the explicit written consent of the patient or his guardian, based on free will.
What must the patient be told before electroconvulsive therapy?
The nature of the treatment, its purpose, its side effects and the available treatment alternatives.
More articles on Compulsory Treatment Care and Electroconvulsive Therapy
- Article 17
The Article regulates compulsory treatment care at outpatient clinics or at home on the decision of two psychiatrists, for up to 180 days, with the right to object and to ask for it to end.
أ - يتطلب تطبيق الرعاية العلاجية الإلزامية أن يكون الشخص مصاباً باضطراب نفسي، ويحتاج إلى الرعاية العلاجية، وذلك بقرار يعتمده طبيبان نفسيان موضحة فيه أسباب فرض ا
- Article 18
The Article requires treatment team members to record every treatment intervention in the mental patient's file, including electroconvulsive therapy and its procedures, as the Regulations set out.
يلتزم أعضاء الفريق الطبي العلاجي بأن يسجلوا في ملف المريض النفسي كل تدخل علاجي يقوم به أي منهم، بما في ذلك العلاج بالصدمات الكهربائية وإجراءاته، وذلك وفقاً لما
- Article 20
The Article creates in every inpatient mental treatment facility a technical medical committee of three psychiatrists, one at least a consultant, to deal with cases that obstruct the treatment plan.
تنشأ لجنة طبية فنية داخل كل منشأة علاجية نفسية معدة للتنويم من ثلاثة أطباء نفسيين أحدهم - على الأقل - استشاري ؛ للتعامل مع الحالات التي تعوق تطبيق الخطة العلاجي
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.