Medical Liability and Medical Errors Course: UAE Law for Clinicians

What you will learn

• Identify the federal and emirate-level laws and standards that govern medical liability and discipline in the UAE, and the licensing authority that applies to your practice.
• Apply the statutory duties in Articles 3 and 4 of Federal Decree-Law No. 4 of 2016 and Article 2 of Cabinet Resolution No. 40 of 2019 to your own records and practice.
• Recognise the prohibited acts in Article 5 and the exceptions that apply in emergencies and telehealth.
• Distinguish medical error, gross medical error and no-liability cases using Article 6, Article 17 and the criteria in Cabinet Resolution No. 40 of 2019, Article 5.
• Describe how complaints are submitted to MOHAP, DHA and DOH and how Medical Liability Committees are formed, work and report.
• Calculate the deadlines for a grievance against a committee report and against disciplinary decisions under federal, Dubai and Abu Dhabi rules.
• Explain temporary and precautionary suspension, the protection against investigation before a final gross error report, criminal penalties and reconciliation.
• Explain the compulsory medical liability insurance duties of practitioners and facility owners.
• Compare the disciplinary penalties and remedial measures available to MOHAP, the DHA and the DOH.
• Prepare a factual, reflective response to a complaint and a targeted remediation plan that demonstrates insight.

Syllabus

12 sections, about 3 learning hours, 20-question final assessment

1. 1The UAE medical liability framework3 lessons

   • Why medical liability matters to every UAE clinician
   • The legal instruments you need to know
   • Who handles what: the competent health authority
2. 2Your legal duties and prohibited acts3 lessons

   • The statutory duties of practitioners
   • Prohibited acts under Article 5
   • Consent, surgery, discharge and end of life
3. 3Medical error, gross medical error and no-liability cases3 lessons

   • What counts as a medical error
   • Gross medical error
   • When there is no liability, and how causation is decided
4. 4Complaints and the Medical Liability Committee3 lessons

   • How a medical complaint starts
   • Inside the Medical Liability Committee
   • Protections and interim measures during an investigation
5. 5Grievance, the Supreme Committee and deadlines2 lessons

   • Challenging a committee report: the grievance
   • What the report leads to, and the deadlines across tracks
6. 6Criminal liability, reconciliation and compulsory insurance3 lessons

   • Criminal penalties under the medical liability law
   • Reconciliation
   • Compulsory medical liability insurance
7. 7Disciplinary consequences by licensing authority3 lessons

   • Federal disciplinary penalties
   • Dubai: Executive Council Resolution No. 49 of 2024
   • Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai Healthcare City
8. 8Reducing risk in everyday practice3 lessons

   • Documentation as patient safety and as evidence
   • High-risk situations and how to manage them
   • Incident reporting and open disclosure
9. 9Responding to a complaint and showing insight3 lessons

   • The first days after a complaint or notice
   • Writing your response and being heard
   • Insight, remediation and wellbeing
10. 10Conclusion and key points1 lesson

    • Conclusion and key points
11. 11References and further reading1 lesson

    • References and further reading
12. 12Your reflective account1 lesson

    • Your reflective account

Course facts

CPD value

Approximately 3 learning hours (self-directed CPD, including knowledge checks, reflection and assessment)

Audience

Licensed healthcare professionals in the UAE (physicians, dentists, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and allied health professionals) licensed by MOHAP, DHA, DOH, SHA or DHCR

Standards covered

Federal Decree-Law No. 4 of 2016 on Medical Liability (as amended by Federal Decree-Law No. 18 of 2023); Cabinet Resolution No. 40 of 2019; Cabinet Resolution No. 14 of 2020; Federal Law No. 5 of 2019 and Cabinet Resolution No. 67 of 2020; Federal Law No. 6 of 2023 and Cabinet Resolution No. 176 of 2025; Dubai Executive Council Resolution No. 49 of 2024; Abu Dhabi Law No. 10 of 2018; DHA and DOH consent, records and incident standards

Format

Self-paced, gated lessons with knowledge checks, UAE case studies and reflection

Assessment

20 scenario-based questions, 80% to pass (16 of 20)

Outcome

Certificate of completion and a written reflection for your professional development portfolio

Alignment

Supports reflection on the DHA Standards for Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for Health Professionals (2025), including Standard 6 ("Uphold Professional Integrity, Ethical Behaviour and Accountability") and Standard 7 ("Adhere to the Defined Scope of Practice and Maintain Professional Competence"); the duties in Federal Law No. 5 of 2019 Art. 17 and Federal Law No. 6 of 2023 Art. 8; and the DOH Patient Consent Standard and Incident Reporting and Management Standard

Price

AED 449

Who this course is for

Physicians, dentists, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and allied health professionals licensed by MOHAP, DHA, DOH, SHA or DHCR.

Written for professionals licensed by any UAE authority: MOHAP, DHA, DOH, SHA or DHCR. Where the rules differ, the course explains the difference.