The Shariah Health Commission in the Eastern Province has ruled that a surgeon here should pay SR300,000 Diya (blood money) to the family of a patient who died after an operation at a private hospital. The family accused the doctor of making a mistake while operating to remove a fatty sac on the patient's liver. Dr. Tariq Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Salem, Director General of the Health Affairs Directorate in the Eastern Province, said a citizen had sued the surgeon for negligence. Al-Salem said he ordered the Follow-up Administration at the Directorate to open an investigation into the complaint. The case was referred to the Shariah Medical Commission, which found the surgeon responsible for the patient's death. Al-Salem said the Health Directorate is a supervisory body while the members of the Follow-Up Committee are highly-qualified consultant doctors in various specializations. The committee made its decision after studying all aspects of the case, including diagnosis and prognosis. The committee issues penalties which can include warnings, termination of service and cancelling the doctor's license. __
