Authority for medical responsibility

The Authority is an independent governmental entity established in 2020 under law 70 of 2020 regarding the practice of medicine and allied health professions, patient’s rights, and healthcare facilities, and in implementation of the law, the Amiri Decree 47 for the year 2022 for the appointment of the director of the Authority and the deputy was issued on the 22nd of February 2022. In accordance with article 37 of law 70 of 2020, The Authority specializes exclusively, through the committees it forms, in providing expert medical opinions, in complaints, records, communications, reports, court cases, and lawsuits related to medical errors and professional violations referred or submitted to it against all healthcare professionals, healthcare facilities whether governmental or private, or the managers of the healthcare facilities.

Law No. 70 of 2020 on the practice of the medical profession and its auxiliary professions and the rights of patients and health facilities

Scope of work

The Authority’s capacity and scope of work includes all medical and allied health professionals practicing in both the governmental and private sectors. It specializes exclusively in providing expert medical opinions in cases submitted to it through complaints, records, communications, reports, court cases, and lawsuits related to medical errors and professional violations.

Integrity

Article 52 of Law 70 of 2020, prohibits all forms of interference with the functions of the Authority and the designated medical liability committee or obstruction of their work. In addition, in compliance with the requirements of integrity, impartiality, and the law, all designated medical liability committee members are prohibited from participating in deliberations, voting, making decisions, or even providing an opinion, if they are involved with one of the parties of the case either through any form of interest (direct or indirect), kinship or affinity up to the fourth degree, current of previous legal disputes, and current or previous business or professional association, according to article 41 of the same law.

Confidentiality

According to article 51 of law 70 of 2020, all employees of the Authority including the director, deputy, and other employees, as well as the medical liability committee member are required by law to maintain the confidentiality of all information, they have access to or obtain through the implementation of their duties even after leaving their posts except in cases specified by law.

Services

Complaints

In accordance with article 37 of law 70 of 2020, The Authority specializes exclusively, through the committees it forms, in providing expert medical opinions, related to medical errors and professional violations referred or submitted to it against all healthcare professionals, healthcare facilities whether governmental or private, or the managers of the healthcare facilities. These may be received through:

  • Complaints
  • Records
  • Communications
  • Reports
  • Court cases and Lawsuits


Complaint submission:

Complaint follow up

You may follow up the complaint by contacting the Authority by email


Submission of an objection

All the parties involved in the complaint may submit an objection to the report of the medical liability committee within 15 days from the date of receiving the report or being informed about it according to article 49 of law 70 of 2020. Any objection submitted after this date will not be accepted and the report will be considered final.
Please fill out one of the below forms, as per your designations, and send it to the Authority through email.


Frequently asked questions

  • Who can submit a complaint?

    You may submit a complaint to the Authority if you are:

    1. Patients, their legal representative, and guardians of a minor patient
    2. Licensed healthcare professional or any person working in the healthcare sector
    3. Licensed healthcare facilities
    4. Any relevant governmental entity

  • You are required to fill in the complaint form, mention all the relevant details, and attach all relevant reports and evidence.

  • You can submit a complaint by filling out the designated form and sending it through email to the Authority or by attending physically at the Authority if the first option is not feasible.

  • Committees are formed as per article 39 of law 70 for the year 2020, provided that the members are experienced and competent in what is entrusted to them, as follows:

    1. Three specialized doctors or have sufficient medical experience to decide on the subject presented to the Authority
    2. A lawyer from the Fatwa and Legislation Department, who’s level is not less than an assistant consultant or a professor in law with a practical or professional experience of not less that fifteen years.
    3. A doctor specialized in Occupational Health
    4. A Forensic Doctor The Chairman of the Authority may change the number of the members of the committee, provided that its number is not less than five and that its formation contains an odd number of members, including the categories referred to, and they are selected according to the nature of the subject presented and its effects.

  • The Authority deems every complaint important, however, initiation of investigations is based on a prioritization system which the Authority implements including but not limited to cases of death, cases referred from courts or the Public Prosecutor, and cases involving serious errors.

  • You may follow up the complaint by contacting the Authority by email.

  • Yes, all relevant parties will be informed about the conclusion of the investigation within a maximum of 30 days from the issue of the report by the committee.

  • Normally, you should expect to receive a detailed report within a maximum of 90 days from the date of the committee formation. In some cases, however, the committee may extend the above-mentioned required period for another 90 days or less to issue its report.

  • Yes, the complainant and the complained against receive a copy of the investigation report according to article 49 of law 70 of 2020.

  • As per article (49) of law 70 (2020), either of the involved parties may object to the report of the medical liability committee given to them within 15 days from the date of receiving the report or being informed about it. Any objection submitted after this date will not be accepted and the report will be considered final.

  • Only the person who submitted the complaint initially may apply for its withdrawal. The withdrawal is made by filling out the appropriate form and sending it through email to the Authority. If the complaint was launched by a legal guardian or representative, the complaint can only be withdrawn by the same person unless proof of change of guardianship is provided. However, if the complaint has been referred to the Authority from another entity, the withdrawal must be from that entity.

  • No, not in all cases. The Authority reserves the right to follow the investigation through if it deems it necessary should evidence reveal violations in the healthcare facility which may harm future patients or repeated violations from a healthcare professional noted through other complaints.

  • It is the law regulating the practice of doctors, allied health professionals, and healthcare facilities in the State of Kuwait. You may review the law through the below link.


Contact us

Address:

Sulaibikhat - Jamal Abdul Nasser Street - Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialization Fifth Floor - P.O. Box 5 Postal Code 13001