finding committee has been formed to investigate 21 death cases out of 43 because of errors by medical professionals in Madina. Medical practitioners involved in the 21 death cases were already found guilty by Shariah medical committee. This is the highest number of deaths due to medical errors recorded in a Saudi city. Riyadh came in second with 20 death cases due to medical errors. The region of Asir recorded 21 death cases because of medical errors. A recent report from the Ministry of Health showed that 129 people died because of medical mistakes by health professionals in 2009. Director of the Health Affairs Department in Madina, Dr. Khaled Yassin, said an investigation committee started Saturday reviewing the verdicts of Shariah committee that have already charged health practitioners with medical errors killing 21 patients. Sources said the fact-finding medical committee will examine the 21 case files, currently held by the Shariah medical committee. The newly-formed committee will investigate the causes of death with hospital managements and will also look into decisions taken by hospitals against erring medical staff as per the rulings of the Shariah medical committee, including fines and deportation. A fine for a medical error could go up to SR800,000, a judicial source said. Forensic medical centers have examined 2,502 cases for potential wrongdoing. A total of 550 bodies out of 1,356 suspected cases of medical errors were autopsied, the Ministry of Health report showed. Dr. Yassin said the committee will also study the needs of the region for medial staff and whether this is keeping pace with population growth. “Nothing is alarming about shortage of medical staff as of now, however,” he said.
