The Ministry of Health and Community Protection reported that it investigates about 40 complaints related to medical errors annually, while the total number of complaints decided upon by the Authority (medical and administrative) reaches more than 240 complaints annually. The Director of the Health Empowerment and Compliance Department in the Ministry, Dr. Hessa Mubarak, revealed: The specialties of dentistry, women and obstetrics are at the forefront of complaints compared to other specialties, pointing out that the penalties may reach the cancellation of the license and the removal of the name from the list of doctors, and she explained to “Emirates Al-Youm” that no The Ministry monitors any health condition, such as the case of the young Emirati woman, Rawda Al-Muaini, during the previous three years in the private health sector.
In detail, Dr. Hessa Mubarak said: “The Ministry of Health and Community Protection looks into 240 complaints annually, at a rate of 60 complaints per quarter, ranging from medical to administrative, and they are investigated according to the scope of the complaint, bringing the number of complaints about medical errors to 40 complaints per year.” For approximately a year, after investigating it and proving the medical error to the medical and technical staff, through a specialized committee in the field of complaints, composed of consultant doctors who are used to study the case of the complaint in all its dimensions.
She continued: “Medical errors occur more frequently in the dental, gynecological, and obstetrics specialties, as they are the specialties for which complaints are most frequently filed by clients who benefit from health services in the private sector.”
She stressed that “if a medical error is proven by the doctor or technician, after the necessary investigations are completed, and harm to the patient is proven, and this error is due to ignorance of technical matters that every doctor is supposed to be familiar with, whether in terms of diagnosing the disease or prescribing appropriate treatment, measures will be taken.” The necessary punitive action against the doctor or technician who caused the medical error, by applying the Medical Liability Law and the Human Medical Profession Law.”
She pointed out that the penalties in such cases range from drawing attention, warning, suspension from work for a period not exceeding one year, withdrawing the license, and deleting the name from the doctors’ register, in addition to other general rules contained in the Penal Code, under which the doctor or technician may fall under its jurisdiction. If it is proven that the error he committed was due to negligence or negligence, these penalties will be approved by the competent committees.
She stated that the Ministry of Health and Community Protection deals with all seriousness and transparency with complaints of medical errors, in order to guarantee the rights of patients and their families, and does not neglect any complaint received to it, to ensure the quality and improvement of health services provided by private health facilities and follow up on them, while all complaints submitted in this regard are taken into account. To enhance the confidence of individuals and provide them with the best services, the Ministry also seeks to give a positive image of the health services provided to patients and visitors, and to ensure communication with the health facility regarding complaints related to it.
She continued: “The Ministry takes the necessary measures by investigating complaints against health facilities, or against the staff working in them, by deciding on them by following up on the health facility, and investigating the area of complaint with it, in accordance with the laws and regulations in force in the Ministry, by applying the necessary penalties against Doctors and technicians who are found guilty of medical errors, after forming an investigation committee to study the complaint, composed of specialists in the field of complaints.
She added: “The Ministry also enhances the confidence of community members in the health services provided by health facilities, by encouraging patients and visitors to provide their comments about health services.”
Dr. Hessa stated that the time period for deciding on medical complaints depends on the status and dimensions of the complaint, and on the procedures that are taken during the investigation, as investigations of medical complaints, in which medical errors are proven, depend on scientific proof and medical documents that the health facility is required to provide to clarify the medical procedures that occurred. I followed it with the patient, the complaint is closed, and a response is given to its complainant after the investigation report is approved by a specialized committee in the Ministry of Health and Community Protection.
“Rawda” family: new information in the case
The family of the young Emirati woman, Rawda Al Muaini, a victim of medical negligence at the First Med Center in Dubai, reported that there is new information that they will add to the case file, which is currently being examined by the Public Prosecution and the Health Authority is investigating, which is that they monitored the anesthesiologist leaving during the operation to smoke and drink. Coffee, while the surgeon was performing the surgery at the same time, and her heart stopped completely without him noticing.
According to Rawda’s family, information will also be added to the case file related to the entry of doctors from outside the center into the operating room, and another about the anesthesiologist’s admission that he gave her an unapproved cardiac resuscitation medication in such cases.
Rawda’s case dates back to April 23, after she went for a simple nasal surgery to treat breathing problems at First Med Medical Center, but she sank into a complete coma since that day, as she was admitted to the operating room in At 10 a.m., she came out suffering from damage to her brain cells, which caused her to lose the ability to move, speak, and see, in addition to causing her to fall into a coma, as a result of her heart stopping beating for about Seven minutes.
240
A complaint is examined annually by the Ministry, with an average of 60 complaints per quarter.
“No health condition has been monitored by (the Ministry) similar to that of the young woman (Rawda).”
Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news
