Article 14 of the Saudi Organ Donation Law
المادة 14 من نظام التبرع بالأعضاء البشرية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 يتضمن جميع الشروط والضوابط الصحية والمعايير المعتمدة دوليًّا لزراعة الأعضاء البشرية، وتحديثه من وقت إلى آخر، بما لا يتعارض مع أحكام الشريعة الإسلامية والنظام واللائحة. ويُعمل بهذا الدليل بعد اعتماده من الرئيس.
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 14 explained in plain English
This article creates a supreme medical committee with a central technical role in regulating organ transplantation:
- Formation: by decision of the chairman of the Saudi Health Council, on the proposal of the Director General of the Center.
- Members: drawn from all health sectors, and the rank of a member must not be less than consultant physician.
- Task: preparing a comprehensive guide containing all the health conditions and controls and the internationally accepted standards for organ transplantation, and updating it from time to time.
- Limits: the guide must not conflict with the provisions of Islamic Sharia, the law and the regulations.
- Effect: the guide is applied after it is approved by the chairman.
The importance of this guide is practical: Article 15 makes licensing a health facility for removal or transplant operations conditional on confirming that it complies with what is in this guide. The guide is thus the technical reference against which facilities are measured before they are licensed.
The text does not state the detailed content of the guide. It is issued by the committee and updated periodically.
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 14 of the Saudi Organ Donation Law
Who prepares the guide to conditions for organ transplantation?
A supreme medical committee formed by decision of the chairman of the Saudi Health Council, on the proposal of the Director General of the Center.
What is the minimum rank of a member of the supreme medical committee?
The rank of a member must not be less than consultant physician.
When does the guide take effect?
The guide is applied after it is approved by the chairman.
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 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 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.

