Article 7 of the Saudi Organ Donation Law
المادة 7 من نظام التبرع بالأعضاء البشرية
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 المتبرع له، وللمركز الاستعانة بلجنة طبية (أو أكثر) من الأطباء ذوي الاختصاص في هذا المجال إذا دعت الحاجة لذلك.
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 7 explained in plain English
This article identifies the body that decides on the suitability of the donated organ for transplant into the recipient patient: the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation.
The Center carries out this task as follows:
- In coordination with the health facilities that the Center designates inside the Kingdom.
- It may also coordinate with facilities outside the Kingdom when needed.
- The Center may use one or more medical committees of doctors specialized in this field if necessary.
The aim is to ensure that an unsuitable organ is not transplanted, to protect the recipient patient and preserve the value of the donation itself. This article links to Article 6, which requires the facility to notify the Center immediately upon removal, so the Center knows of the organ before determining its suitability. It also links to Article 8, which prohibits donation if the medical team believes the transplant will probably not succeed.
The text does not state detailed suitability criteria. This is a technical medical matter decided by the Center and the specialists it uses.
Practical example
The family of a deceased person in Abha donated his organs. Before the heart is transplanted into a patient waiting in another hospital, the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation, in coordination with the facilities concerned, determines whether the heart is suitable for transplant, and may use a committee of specialized cardiologists.
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 7 of the Saudi Organ Donation Law
Who decides that a donated organ is suitable for transplant?
The Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation does so, in coordination with the health facilities it designates.
Can the Center coordinate with hospitals outside the Kingdom?
Yes. The text allows the Center to coordinate with health facilities outside the Kingdom when needed.
More articles on Procedures for Organ Transplant Operations
- Article 5
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.
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
- 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 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.