Expensive advertisements, sometimes costing hundreds of thousands of dinars, have been published regularly, even on the front pages of newspapers. These advertisements often include descriptions about the surgeries performed, despite the often questionable morality behind them. A clear example of this is the existence of hundreds of distinguished dental clinics, yet only a few feel the need to promote their services commercially. Recently, one clinic even announced a partnership with a law firm, though I fail to see the humorous connection between a dental clinic and a law office. There exists an ethical code or unwritten custom for certain professions, such as doctors, lawyers, pharmacists, chartered accountants, and others, that stresses the importance of trustworthiness and discourages being influenced by flashy advertisements. These professions should refrain from relying on commercial promotion, as it undermines their reputation and opens the door to exploiting patients and clients.
Moreover, staying silent about this issue undermines the principle of equal opportunity among professionals, as the honest and dedicated ones suffer both financially and morally, while others profit. These advertisements often reveal personal details about clients and expose some of these professionals’ accomplishments, such as showcasing their success in clearing someone of a serious charge or treating them for a medical condition. The responsibility for stopping these violations does not rest solely with the entity that granted the advertisement license, but also with officials from dozens of other entities. These officials, who pass by massive advertisements that violate public order and sensibility almost every day during their supervisory duties, take no action. Our appeal to the relevant supervisory authorities, including government agencies and officials of professional associations, is not to obstruct the spread of services, but rather to ensure they are offered honestly and professionally, without commercial influences that could compromise the quality of work. If I may, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Al-Sabah, I kindly urge you to encourage all relevant ministers to refrain from treating these violations leniently, regardless of their size or severity. For many years, New York City was considered one of the most dangerous cities in America. When I first visited in 1977, the bank manager advised me to be cautious and avoid walking through most of its streets, even during the daytime.
When an active lawyer became the Mayor of New York, he transformed it into one of the safest major cities by prosecuting those responsible for minor offenses and misdemeanors, believing that they could eventually become the major criminals of tomorrow. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the perpetrators of recent crimes in Kuwait admitted that what “encouraged” them to commit their crime was the sight of many violations being committed around them every day, without anyone being held accountable. Even if they didn’t say it out loud, this mentality likely lingered in their subconscious. Recently, suspicious groups have exploited the good reputation of the “Friendship Society,” which is known for its high credibility and transparency, by publishing fake job advertisements with the intent of collecting funds illegally. I urge caution and call on the relevant authorities, especially the General Department of Cybercrime, to take the necessary measures to prevent the spread of such scams and deceptions.
