المملكة: “Latif” is an initiative to educate patients about the right to medical authorization in health facilities

The Association for Religious and Spiritual Support for Palliative Medicine Patients “Latif” confirmed that medical authorization represents the “informed consent” of the sane adult patient, or his representative, to the medical procedures necessary to preserve and restore health.
Muhammad Al-Omar, owner of the Saudi Guide to Medical Permission Initiative and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association for Religious and Spiritual Support for Palliative Medicine Patients “Latif,” explained that medical authorization is a contract between the patient, the health practitioner, and the health facility, in which the qualified practitioner pledges that all medical procedures will be in the patient’s interest. And in accordance with recognized medical principles.

Medical authorization application

He added that applying medical authorization in its correct form aims to enable patients to exercise their health rights and know them legally and legally, achieve their safety, confirm correct diagnosis, reduce medical errors, protect all parties (the patient, practitioner and facility) legally, improve patients’ experience and gain their satisfaction.

He explained that a doctor performing any medical procedure, without taking permission from the patient, is considered a transgression requiring punishment, citing the noble verse, “And do not transgress. Indeed, God does not like transgressors,” and the jurisprudential rule, “It is not permissible for anyone to dispose of another person’s property or right without permission.” .
He referred to Article Nineteen of the Health Professions Practice Law, which stipulates the necessity of obtaining the patient’s consent before any medical work, and specifies the penalties for violators.
He stressed the importance of educating patients about the concept of medical authorization, their rights and duties, and that approval for any medical procedure is a “pure right” for the patient, and that he has the right to refuse any procedure except in emergency cases.
He continued: The patient has the right to be a “partner” with the medical team in developing the treatment plan, and to know the benefits of medical procedures, their alternatives, and their potential complications, stressing the necessity of signing the medical authorization form before any procedure, and for this to be done with free will without coercion, while giving the patient a period of time for consultation. And his right to revoke his consent and take a copy of the form.

Patient duties

He determined the age and duties of the patient, including reading the form carefully, understanding the procedures, inquiring about any ambiguity, signing the form with approval or rejection, disclosing medical history, and adhering to medical instructions, noting that taking permission must take place in an appropriate place that preserves the patient’s privacy, and that permission The medical license is a private right for the patient himself, and no one has the right to sign on his behalf except with an official power of attorney.

He specified three cases in which the patient’s guardian may sign on his behalf, which is if the patient is a minor, lacks legal capacity, or lacks capacity, stressing that women are like men in this right, and no one has the right to sign on their behalf except with her authorization, based on the decisions of the Council of Senior Scholars.
Al-Omar excluded from the requirement for medical permission emergency and emergency cases that require intervention to save the patient’s life, cases required by the public interest such as infectious diseases, and cases of psychological or mental patients who threaten themselves or others.
He called on everyone to review the Saudi Guide to Medical Authorization and the “You Have the Right” program to learn about patients’ rights and duties, stressing that signing the authorization form is not just a routine procedure, but rather a right and duty related to patient safety.
The Association for Religious and Spiritual Support for Palliative Medicine Patients “LATIF” is considered the first non-governmental association of its kind in the Kingdom. The members of its Board of Directors, in its first session for a period of four years, include a distinguished elite of specialists in the field of the association and those with accumulated experience from health practitioners as consultant doctors in palliative medicine, represented by Chairman of the Board of Directors, Muhammad Al-Omar, and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr. Muhammad Al-Mutairi, Dr. Muhammad Al-Shehri, Dr. Abdul Hakim Asiri, Dr. Nabil Al-Muallami, Dr. Mashhour Al-Otaibi, Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Rashudi.