Article 13 of the Saudi Organ Donation Law
المادة 13 من نظام التبرع بالأعضاء البشرية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 زراعة العضو في جسم المراد التبرع له، أو في حالة تعذر الحصول على موافقة لاحقة من المتبرع أو ممن يجوز الحصول على موافقته وفقاً للمادة (الثالثة) من النظام؛ على التصرف بالعضو. وفي جميع الأحوال يجب التنسيق مع المركز عند التصرف بالعضو.
2- عدم تبليغ المركز أو التأخر في تبليغه عن حالات الوفاة التي تحددها اللائحة حال وقوعها داخل المنشأة الصحية.
3- زراعة عضو بشري قد استؤصل تنفيذاً لحكم قضائي.
4- الحصول على أي مقابل مادي أو عيني بأي شكل من الأشكال بسبب التبرع بالأعضاء البشرية، ولا يشمل ذلك المقابل المالي للتكاليف أو الخدمات التي تقدمها المنشآت الصحية عند إجراء عمليات نقل الأعضاء.
5- دفع أو منح أي مقابل مادي أو عيني بأي شكل من الأشكال للمتبرع أو ورثته أو أقربائه، أو التوسط في ذلك، بسبب التبرع بالأعضاء البشرية.
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 13 explained in plain English
This article sets five prohibitions on health facilities:
- Using the organ for other than its purpose: a removed organ may not be used for any purpose other than the one for which it was donated. Two cases are excepted: it is not possible to transplant it into the intended recipient, or it is not possible to obtain further consent from the donor or from those whose consent may be taken under Article 3. In all cases, coordination with the Center is required when disposing of the organ.
- Failing to report, or delaying a report, of the deaths that the regulations specify, if they occur inside the facility.
- Transplanting an organ removed in execution of a court judgment.
- Taking any payment because of donation. The prohibition does not cover the financial charge for costs or services the facility provides when carrying out transfer operations, and it may charge fees for its medical services.
- Paying or granting any payment to the donor, his heirs or his relatives, or intermediating in that, because of donation.
This article complements Article 12, which prohibits payment by the donor, the recipient and intermediaries, by extending the prohibition to health facilities. Violating these prohibitions is punishable under the law. Article 14 follows and regulates the guide prepared by the supreme medical committee on the conditions for organ transplantation.
Practical example
A private hospital in Jeddah charged a patient the fees for the kidney transplant operation, accommodation and medicines. This is permitted because it is payment for services. But if the hospital paid a sum to the donor to encourage him to donate, that would be prohibited.
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 13 of the Saudi Organ Donation Law
May a hospital charge fees for an organ transplant operation?
Yes. The prohibition does not cover the financial charge for costs or services the facility provides when carrying out transfer operations.
When may an organ be used for a purpose other than the one it was donated for?
When it cannot be transplanted into the intended recipient, or further consent cannot be obtained from the person whose consent may be taken, with coordination with the Center in all cases.
May an organ removed under a court judgment be transplanted?
No. The text prohibits health facilities from transplanting a human organ removed in execution of a court judgment.
Articles this article refers to
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 10
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.
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 ال
- 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.