Senate approves proposal for medical accountability bill

AMMAN — The Senate on Monday approved a proposal to draft a medical accountability law under which a specialised court will be established to look into malpractice cases.

The proposed law is among a set of recommendations by the Senate’s Health, Environment and Population Committee aiming at improving the country’s medical sector, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

According to Paragraph A of Article 95 of the Constitution, “Any ten or more senators or deputies may propose any law. Such proposal shall be referred to the committee concerned in the House for its views. 

“If the House is of the opinion that the proposal be accepted it shall refer it to the government for drafting it in the form of draft law, and to submit it to the House either during the same session or at the following session.”

In addition to a having a concise and clear definition of instances of medical malpractice, the projected law should stipulate the establishment of specialised judicial body to look into such cases, the committee recommended.   

At the session, Legislation and Opinion Bureau Director Nufan Ajarmeh said a draft medical accountability law is already being deliberated with several concerned parties, and the bill has all the validating reasons annexed to the senators’ version, Petra said.

Since 2007, four medical accountability draft laws have been put forward, but none of them was enacted, owing in large part to opposition from the Jordan Medical Association and other groups of medical professionals, who have argued that the proposed laws did not protect their rights.

Also during Monday’s session, Senator Ahmad Sweilmin was sworn in before the Senate as a new member.