Medical errors made during deliveries top the list of medical mistakes in Saudi hospitals, accounting for 70 percent of all medical mistakes in the kingdom, the Makkah Daily newspaper reported.
Majed Al Harbi, a legal consultant at the Shariah Health Commission in Riyadh, said data obtained from eight forensic health committees in Riyadh showed the cases varied between the death of the mother during delivery, shortage of oxygen supply to the newborn baby leading to a permanent disability and other medical errors.
It looked at medical error cases committed by private, military and government hospitals.
“Private hospitals accounted for the highest percentage of medical errors according to the cases received by the commission during the last seven years,” he said. “Some of these hospitals are classified as five-star hospitals in Riyadh.”
Al Harbi said as a result of the errors the licenses of 15 doctors had been withdrawn.
“When the committees receive a complaint, they look into the medical file meticulously,” Al Harbi said.
Saudi Obstetrics and Gynecology Society chairman, Dr Hassan Saleh, said medical errors during deliveries could be attributed to several factors including numerous emergency cases, critical cases during delivery, insufficient supply of blood and medicines and a lack of facilities especially in hospitals in small cities.
He said the society and Ministry of Health would study the reasons for the death of Saudi women during delivery, with work to begin within four months.
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