A Civil Family Court in Abu Dhabi has ordered a doctor and a private hospital to pay Dh50,000 (about $13,600) to a patient as compensation after an error occurred during a spinal fusion surgery.
The patient had originally requested a much larger compensation of Dh200,000 along with 12% annual interest, claiming that the surgeon had used a cervical cage that did not fit properly. This mistake forced the patient to go through another corrective surgery to fix the problem.
The case was reviewed by the Supreme Committee of Medical Liability, which confirmed that although the error did not amount to gross negligence, it was still a violation of accepted medical standards and practices.
Since the doctor was working under the hospital at the time of the surgery, the court held both the doctor and the hospital responsible. Together, they have been ordered to pay the patient compensation for both financial losses and the emotional distress caused by the medical error.
Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only.
