Shura Panel Reviews Penalty Ladder for Private Clinics and Abortion Law Update

TDT | Manama

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The Shura Council’s Services Committee met online on Monday to review two draft law proposals, one dealing with penalties for private health institutions and the other with rules on abortion under Bahrain’s medical practice law.

The meeting was chaired by Dr Jameela Al Salman. Members discussed a proposal to amend Article 23 of Decree-Law No 21 of 2015 on private health institutions, submitted by Dr Ebtesam Al Dallal, Dalal Jassim Al Zayed, Dr Jameela Al Salman, Dr Ahmed Al Orayedh and Dr Hani Al Saati.

The proposal looks to rearrange administrative penalties so they are applied in stages, with clearer steps for how each measure is used. The committee discussed the need for a plain legal order for penalties, so the harshest sanction is not used first unless the type of breach, its seriousness and its circumstances call for it.

Members said the approach aims to keep a fair link between the act and the sanction, while protecting the stability of health services and the interests of patients. The proposal would also give the Accountability Committee a clearer basis for weighing the gravity of a breach before moving to heavier measures, with oversight meant to work without excess or arbitrary use.

The committee also reviewed the main ideas behind the proposal, including keeping fine amounts as they are, while widening and sharpening the criteria used when deciding on administrative measures. Another aim raised in the meeting was balancing deterrence with support for investment in the health sector.

In the same session, the committee reviewed a separate proposal to amend parts of Decree-Law No 7 of 1989 on the practice of human medicine and dentistry. It was submitted by Lina Habeeb, Dr Jehad Al Fadhel, Dalal Al Zayed, Dr Jameela Al Salman and Dr Ahmed Salem Al Orayedh.

This second proposal aims to update the legal rules on abortion to match medical progress and advances in science and technology, with a focus on early diagnosis of disease and fetal abnormalities. The proposal argues the current wording no longer covers new cases faced by doctors and pregnant women.