Article 10 of the Saudi Organ Donation Law
المادة 10 من نظام التبرع بالأعضاء البشرية
The 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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تجب مراعاة كرامة المتبرع عند استئصال العضو البشري، وحمايته من الامتهان أو التشويه. ولا يجوز إفشاء أي معلومات تتعلق بجسم المتبرع حيًّا أو ميتًا إلا في الأحوال المقررة نظاماً، أو إذا صدر بذلك أمر من جهة قضائية.
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 10 explained in plain English
This article protects the donor in two respects:
First: bodily dignity. When an organ is removed, the donor's dignity must be respected, and he must be protected from degradation or disfigurement. Donation does not permit handling the donor's body, living or dead, in a way that violates its sanctity.
Second: confidentiality. No information concerning the donor's body may be disclosed, living or dead, except in only two cases:
- Cases provided for by law.
- Where a judicial authority has so ordered.
This obligation falls on everyone who learns this information through their work, such as the health facility and the medical team. The aim is to reassure the donor and his family that their privacy is protected, which encourages donation.
This links to Article 9, which makes the examination of the donated organ subject to the controls of the regulations and Sharia. A person whose dignity has been violated, or whose information has been disclosed, may consult a lawyer who specializes in civil cases and compensation, or in criminal cases, to assess his rights.
Practical example
A deceased man in Medina donated his organs with his family's consent. Later, a hospital employee posted details of his health condition on social media. This is a prohibited disclosure, because it was not a case provided for by law and no court order was issued for it.
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 10 of the Saudi Organ Donation Law
May information about an organ donor be published?
No information concerning the donor's body, living or dead, may be disclosed except in cases provided for by law or by order of a judicial authority.
Does the article protect the body of a deceased donor?
Yes. The donor's dignity must be respected when the organ is removed and he must be protected from degradation or disfigurement, and confidentiality covers him living or dead.
More articles on Health Facility Obligations and Licensing
- Article 6
The 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.
تلتزم المنشأة الصحية -المرخص لها وفق المادة (الخامسة عشرة) من النظام- التي تجرى لديها عملية استئصال العضو البشري من المتبرع، بأن تقوم بإبلاغ المركز في شأن ذلك ف
- Article 13
The 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.
يُحظر على المنشآت الصحية القيام بأيٍّ مما يأتي: 1- التصرف بأيٍّ من الأعضاء البشرية التي تستأصل لغير الغرض الذي تم التبرع به لأجله. ويستثنى من ذلك حالة تعذر زراع
- Article 14
The 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.
تُكوَّن بقرار من الرئيس -بناءً على اقتراح المدير العام- لجنة طبية عليا من جميع القطاعات الصحية لا تقل درجة العضو فيها عن طبيب استشاري، تتولى إعداد دليل متكامل ي
- Article 15
A 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.
1- يكون الترخيص للمنشأة الصحية بقرار يصدره المدير العام -بناءً على توصية من لجنة تقويمية للمنشآت الصحية في هذا المجال تُكوّن وفق ما تحدده اللائحة- بعد التأكد من
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.