In force
Saudi Organ Donation Law
نظام التبرع بالأعضاء البشرية
Regulates the donation and transplantation of human organs in Saudi Arabia. It concerns donors, patients, medical teams and the health facilities involved.
- Articles
- 27
- In force
- 27
- Amended
- 0
- Issued
- 19/8/1442 AH
Issued by: مرسوم ملكي رقم (م/70) وتاريخ 1442/8/19هـ · قرار مجلس الوزراء رقم (468) وتاريخ 1442/8/17هـ
Each article shows the official Arabic text, which is the only legally binding version, followed by our plain-English explanation.
Browse Organ Donation Law by topic
Definitions of the Organ Donation Law3 articlesConditions for Organ Donation and Bequest3 articlesCases Where Organ Donation Is Banned1 articleProcedures for Organ Transplant Operations5 articlesBan on Selling Organs and Payment3 articlesHealth Facility Obligations and Licensing5 articlesThe Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation5 articlesPenalties for Organ Donation Violations5 articles
Articles of the Saudi Organ Donation Law
- Article 1The article defines the key terms of the Human Organ Donation Law, such as human organ, person, donor, bequest, death, health facilities and license.
- Article 2The article allows a person to donate any organ or bequeath its donation, provided this is in writing, documented as the regulations specify, and not contrary to Sharia.
- Article 3The article allows transferring organs from a deceased person who did not donate or bequeath, with the consent of his nearest heir, or nearest relatives if the heirs cannot be identified, and of the majority of them if there are several.
- Article 4The article gives a donor before removal, a person who bequeathed before death, and one who agreed to the transfer of a deceased relative's organs the right to withdraw from the donation without any restriction or condition.
- Article 5The article requires organ transfers to take place in a licensed facility in coordination with the Center, with a full psychological, social and medical examination of the donor, who must be informed of all the consequences.
- Article 6The article requires a licensed health facility that performs an organ removal from a donor to notify the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation immediately, so the Center can take the prescribed measures.
- Article 7The Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation determines whether a donated organ is suitable for transplant, in coordination with health facilities inside the Kingdom or, when needed, abroad, and may use medical committees.
- Article 8The article bans organ donation in five cases, including where the organ is necessary for the donor's life, where the donor lacks or has limited capacity, or where the organ produces reproductive cells.
- Article 9The article requires the medical team, if it considers it necessary to examine the organ to be donated, to observe the controls set by the regulations and not to conflict with the Sharia rules on research on organs.
- Article 10The article requires respect for the donor's dignity when an organ is removed and protection from degradation or disfigurement, and bars disclosing information about his body, living or dead, except as the law provides or by court order.
- Article 11The article leaves verifying death for organ donation to the conditions and controls set by the regulations, subject to the law's provisions on transferring organs from deceased persons.
- Article 12The article bars the donor, his heirs and relatives from requesting or receiving any payment for donation, and the recipient and others from offering it, covering intermediaries, without prejudice to Article 20.
- Article 13The article prohibits health facilities from using an organ for other than its purpose, failing to report deaths to the Center, transplanting an organ removed under a court judgment, and taking or paying any payment for donation.
- Article 14The article provides for a supreme medical committee of consultants from all health sectors to prepare a comprehensive guide to internationally accepted conditions, controls and standards for organ transplantation, in force once the chairman approves it.
- Article 15A health facility is licensed for removal and transplant operations by decision of the Director General on the recommendation of an evaluation committee, after confirming it complies with the guide; the regulations set renewal rules.
- Article 16The Center keeps information on health facilities' needs up to date, follows publications on research from local, regional and international bodies, uses academic institutions, and takes international agreements into account.
- Article 17The Center, with health facilities, follows donors' medical conditions for life, provided they reside in the Kingdom, may provide their medical needs within its resources, and follows up the adequacy of the service to recipients.
- Article 18The Center prepares the procedural forms for organ transplant programs and the unified donation form, whose data the regulations set, and supplies them to health facilities once the Director General approves them.
- Article 19The Center prepares, in coordination with health facilities, national waiting lists for organ transplantation for patients with end-stage organ failure, and sets the priorities of entitlement and the follow-up and documentation of donation in a detailed procedures manual.
- Article 20The Saudi Health Council prepares a guide to the controls for giving donors or the heirs of the deceased benefits, incentive rewards, employment priority or study grants after donation, issued by decision of the Council of Ministers.
- Article 21The article punishes violations of the donation prohibitions and donor dignity with a fine up to SAR 500,000, trading in payment with up to two years' imprisonment and a fine up to SAR 1,000,000, and facility violations with a fine up to SAR 1,000,000.
- Article 22The article punishes any violation of the law or regulations not covered by Article 21 with a fine not exceeding SAR 300,000, imposed by a committee the chairman forms, with objection possible before the Administrative Court.
- Article 23The article allows a penalty decision to include additional penalties, such as barring medical team members from practice, suspending the facility's license for up to a year, closing it, and publishing a summary of the ruling.
- Article 24Employees or workers named by decision of the chairman of the Saudi Health Council, on the Director General's nomination, carry out supervision, inspection and detection of violations provided for in the law or the regulations.
- Article 25The article recognizes the right of anyone harmed by a violation of the law or regulations to claim compensation before the competent court, in addition to the prescribed penalties.
- Article 26The Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation prepares the Implementing Regulations, issued by decision of the chairman of the Health Council within 90 days of the law's publication and effective from the date the law takes effect.
- Article 27The Human Organ Donation Law takes effect 90 days after its publication in the Official Gazette and repeals all provisions that conflict with it.