The Doctors' Syndicate has finalized the new draft law on medical liability and will submit it to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for approval shortly.
The proposed bill has canceled imprisonment as a punishment for medical errors made by doctors, even if the patient dies as a result. Imprisonment has been replaced by a fine no less than LE50,000 for patient death due to error.
If the doctor commits the error outside of his or her licensed medical workplace, medical liability will not apply and the doctor will be subjected to the Penal Code.
According to the bill, doctors are committed to providing the correct medical care, but are not responsible for the results of the treatment, particularly if the patient does not follow instructions.
Additionally, the bill stipulates that doctors may not be arrested or detained pending investigation over medical error charges, except when a doctor is suspected of a criminal act.
The committee that will decide on the liability of a doctor in case of error will be formed by the Cabinet. It will include a representative from the Health Ministry and a representative from the Doctors' Syndicate.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
