Court Orders Medical Centre to Pay Dh1.5M for Doctor’s Negligent Misdiagnosis

A Dubai Civil Court has ordered a private medical centre to pay Dh1.5 million in compensation to a woman after finding that a doctor’s serious misdiagnosis and negligent treatment caused severe health complications.

 

According to Emarat Al Youm, the doctor wrongly diagnosed the patient with myasthenia gravis instead of optic neuritis and prescribed her excessively high doses of corticosteroids -- 50 mg of cortisone daily -- without medical justification or proper monitoring.

 

The prolonged steroid use led to critical side effects, including osteoporosis and stress fractures in the patient’s hip, as confirmed by a report from the Dubai Health Authority’s (DHA) Medical Liability Committee.

 

The woman had filed a lawsuit seeking Dh3 million in damages plus 5 per cent annual interest, claiming both physical and emotional suffering as a result of the erroneous treatment.

 

The DHA’s investigation concluded that the doctor had acted with “100 per cent proven” professional negligence, ignoring test results that contradicted his initial diagnosis and failing to heed the advice of neurology consultants.

 

The medical centre attempted to have the case referred back to the committee, but the court rejected the request, ruling that the DHA report was conclusive and binding.

 

Citing Article 313 of the UAE Civil Transactions Law -- which holds employers liable for the actions of their employees -- the court held the centre responsible for the doctor’s conduct.

 

It ordered the centre to pay Dh1.5 million in compensation with 5 per cent annual interest from the date the ruling becomes final, in addition to court fees and legal expenses, noting that the patient had endured significant physical and psychological harm.

 

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