The Dubai Civil Court has ordered two doctors and a hospital to jointly pay AED700,000 in compensation to the parents of a newborn who sustained permanent brain damage during childbirth, Emarat Al Youm reported.
Court records revealed that the two Asian doctors failed to properly read the baby’s heart monitor during labour, delaying the detection of foetal distress. This error resulted in severe oxygen deprivation, leaving the child unable to walk, eat, or speak. Medical assessments later confirmed irreversible brain injury and total cognitive impairment.
According to the High Committee for Medical Liability, the doctors’ actions fell far below acceptable standards, describing the incident as a “gross error.” The committee assigned 75 per cent of the responsibility to the obstetrician and 25 per cent to the assisting general practitioner.
The parents, also Asian nationals, had sought AED30 million in damages, citing the immense financial and emotional burden. The father told the court he was forced to sell all his possessions and incur heavy debts to fund his son’s annual medical care, which costs nearly AED2 million. The mother, described in court documents as “living in constant grief,” continues to struggle emotionally as she cares for her child who cannot move or communicate.
After reviewing expert reports, the court ruled that the doctors’ negligence directly caused the infant’s condition and ordered both medical practitioners and the hospital to pay AED700,000 with legal interest until the compensation is fully settled.
