BD4,000 clinic bill upheld

Family ties no excuse for unpaid treatment, court says

Bahrain’s High Commercial Court of Appeal has ordered five members of the same family to pay nearly BD4,000 to a medical centre for treatments and medical services received without settling the fees.

The ruling followed a lengthy legal dispute that moved through the Lower Court, the Court of Appeal and the Court of Cassation before the case was reconsidered and the family was ultimately ordered to pay the outstanding amount.

Lawyer Seham Sulaibeekh, representing the medical centre, filed the case seeking payment for treatment and medical services provided to the defendants, in addition to legal interest, court costs and legal fees.

The defendants argued that the services had been provided free of charge because of family ties with the manager of the medical centre. They also claimed attempts had been made to settle part of the dues, but payment was allegedly refused due to the relationship between the parties.

During hearings, one of the centre’s doctors confirmed that several treatments had been provided to the defendants, while a receptionist testified that repeated promises had been made to settle the unpaid bills.

The Court of Cassation later ruled that family relations alone do not cancel financial obligations without clear proof of exemption, stressing that the burden of evidence lies with the party claiming non-payment or exemption.

Following reconsideration, the Court of Appeal overturned the earlier ruling and ordered the defendants to pay nearly BD4,000, along with 2% annual legal interest from the due date until full payment, in addition to court expenses and legal fees.