An Abu Dhabi court has upheld a ruling granting a father AED 350,000 in compensation after a vaccination error involving his son, according to a report by Khaleej Times.
The case began when the father, based in Al Ain, filed a lawsuit against a hospital and its doctor, alleging that the doctor failed to administer the vaccine in the correct manner and at the proper injection site. Although the mistake did not cause lasting disability, the father argued it constituted medical negligence.
The Medical Liability Committee confirmed a minor error, leading the Court of First Instance to award AED 300,000. On appeal, the amount was increased to AED 350,000 after a review by the Supreme Medical Liability Committee.
When the hospital and doctor later tried to transfer liability to their insurer, the Court of Cassation dismissed the attempt, noting that disputes of this nature must first be addressed by the Insurance Dispute Resolution Committee.
The ruling reaffirmed that both the doctor and the hospital are jointly responsible, citing Article 313 of the Civil Transactions Law, which holds employers accountable for errors committed by their staff while on duty.
Under UAE law, doctors are not liable for a patient’s lack of recovery but are accountable if they fail to provide the “necessary care” expected of a reasonably skilled professional under accepted medical standards.
