QU forum on legal responsibility of medical practices

QU Health and the College of Law at Qatar University (QU) jointly organised a forum on ‘Legal Responsibility of Medical Practices in Qatari Law,’ with participation from a number of experts and professionals in the legal and health sector in Qatar.The forum aimed to tackle several topics including the impact of medical errors on the work of physicians and clinical researchers in Qatar, the criminal responsibility of the physicians and their team in Qatari law, global health standards and the role of legislation in regulating medical practices and ethical standards to ensure patient safety among other topics.Dr Talal al-Emadi, dean of QU’s College of Law said : "Clarifying legal responsibility and deriving legal alternatives represents an effective mechanism that guarantees the right to treatment. This is affirmed by Article 23 of the Qatari Constitution, which stipulates that the state shall foster public health, and provide the means of prevention of disease and epidemics and promote their cure in accordance with the law. The National Health Strategy 2018-2022 aligns with the Qatar National Vision 2030, aiming to create a comprehensive healthcare system that operates according to the highest international standards."He added, "We recommend the need to review current legislation regulating medical practices, while considering international standards that align with our culture and legal and health care systems. The experiences of other countries serve as a benchmark for reviewing national legislation and carefully transferring it to serve the health care system in the country.”Prof Feras Alali, associate vice-president for Research and Graduate Studies at QU Health said, "This forum aims to spread legal awareness in the field of medical law and diverse medical practices, emphasising the importance of legal regulations in this regard. This will be achieved by reviewing the legal procedures related to various medical practices and studying medical errors from the perspective of criminal and civil responsibilities for the physician and those in authority.”