KUWAIT CITY, Sept 19: The Criminal Court and the Court of Appeals issued several rulings to convict those accused of assaulting doctors while the latter are performing their duties. These lawsuits were filed by Lawyer Elaf Al-Saleh in her capacity as the legal representative of the Kuwait Medical Association.

In the first case, the Court of Appeals issued a ruling to impose a fine of KD 5,000 against a woman who was accused of assaulting an expatriate doctor and detaining her in the ultrasound room after she became angry and refused to undergo tests before the ultrasound. The court fined her, and referred the case to the competent civil court.

In the second case, the Criminal Court acquitted an Egyptian doctor and imposed a fine of KD 2,000 against a citizen after the two had an altercation in which the patient assaulted the doctor.

During the court session, Lawyer Elaf Al-Saleh said her client, the doctor, was the one who was assaulted publicly, adding that the medical report and witness testimony are in favor of her client.

In the third case, the Court of Appeals ruled to issue a suspended prison sentence of two years against a citizen, releasing him on a bail of KD 500 and obliging him to vow to maintain good conduct for a period of three years. This citizen was found guilty of publicly assaulting an expatriate doctor while the latter was performing his duty.

In the fourth case, the Misdemeanor Court fined a woman a sum of KD 500 for insulting a Kuwaiti doctor at Farwaniya Hospital.

In these cases, Lawyer Elaf Al-Saleh stated that she is continuing as a legal representative for the Kuwait Medical Association in filing complaints against those who assaulted medical staff and doctors in various hospitals.

She emphasized that the deterrent penal rulings will be followed by compensation claims of large sums for psychological and moral damages.

Lawyer Elaf Al-Saleh called on the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Interior to tighten the security of medical personnel in hospitals by intensifying the presence of police officers or members of security guard companies.

By Jaber Al-Hamoud

Al-Seyassah Staff