Article 5 of the Saudi Organ Donation Law
المادة 5 من نظام التبرع بالأعضاء البشرية
The 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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
في غير الأحوال المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثامنة) من النظام، لا يجوز إجراء عمليات نقل الأعضاء البشرية إلاّ بعد تحقق ما يأتي:
1- أن تُجرى في المنشآت الصحية المرخص لها وفق المادة (الخامسة عشرة) من النظام، على أن ينسق قبل إجراء العمليات مع المركز.
2- أن يخضع المتبرع الحي لفحص من أطباء نفسيين واختصاصيين اجتماعيين؛ للتثبت من عدم توافر سبب يؤثر في صحة موافقته على التبرع.
3- أن يُجرى للمتبرع فحص طبي شامل بوساطة فريق طبي مؤهل ومتخصص للتأكد من جاهزية المتبرع صحيًّا.
4- أن يحاط المتبرع بشكل واضح بجميع النتائج المؤكدة والمحتملة المترتبة على إجراء عملية استئصال العضو البشري، على أن يكون ذلك تحت إشراف المركز.
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 5 explained in plain English
This article sets four conditions that must all be met before any organ transfer operation, other than in the cases stated in Article 8, which are cases where donation is prohibited in the first place, so the operation is not performed however many of these conditions are met:
- Place: the operation must be performed in a licensed health facility under Article 15, meaning by decision of the Director General on the recommendation of the evaluation committee, with coordination with the Center before the operation.
- Psychological and social examination: a living donor is examined by psychiatrists and social specialists, to confirm there is no reason affecting the validity of his consent, such as pressure, coercion or lack of understanding.
- Full medical examination: by a qualified and specialized medical team, to confirm that the donor is medically ready.
- Informing him of the consequences: the donor must be told clearly of all the confirmed and possible consequences of the removal operation, under the Center's supervision.
These conditions protect the donor and ensure that his consent is free, valid and based on full knowledge. This links to his right to withdraw from the donation before removal under Article 4, and to the facility's duty after removal to notify the Center immediately under Article 6.
Practical example
Noura wants to donate part of her liver to her mother. Before the operation, a psychiatrist and a social specialist must examine her, she must undergo a full medical examination, the team must explain to her all the confirmed and possible risks, and the operation must take place in a licensed hospital after coordination with the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation.
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 5 of the Saudi Organ Donation Law
Can an organ transplant be performed in any hospital?
No. It must be performed in a health facility licensed under Article 15, with prior coordination with the Center.
Why does a living donor undergo a psychological examination?
To confirm there is no reason affecting the validity of his consent to donate.
Must the donor be told of the risks of the operation?
Yes. He must be clearly informed of all the confirmed and possible consequences of the removal operation, under the Center's supervision.
Articles this article refers to
- Article 8
The 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.
يُحظر التبرع بالأعضاء البشرية في الأحوال الآتية: 1- إذا كان العضو البشري المراد التبرع به لازماً لحياة المتبرع، أو كان التبرع به يفضي إلى موته أو تعطل منفعة عضو
- 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
More articles on Procedures for Organ Transplant Operations
- 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 7
The 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.
يتولى المركز -بالتنسيق مع المنشآت الصحية التي يحددها داخل المملكة، أو خارجها عند الحاجة- مهمة تقرير مدى صلاحية العضو البشري المتبرع به المراد زراعته في جسم المت
- Article 9
The 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.
إذا رأى الفريق الطبي -المكلف بإجراء الفحص الطبي على المتبرع أو إجراء عمليات نقل العضو البشري- ضرورة إجراء أي فحص على العضو البشري المراد التبرع به؛ فتجب مراعاة
- Article 11
The 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.
مع مراعاة ما ورد في النظام في شأن نقل الأعضاء البشرية من المتوفين، يكون التحقق من الوفاة لأجل التبرع بالأعضاء البشرية وفقاً للأوضاع والضوابط التي تحددها اللائحة
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.