Three doctors involved in a nose surgery case that sent an Emirati patient into a coma in 2019 have been allowed to travel after they complete their jail sentence this month, said Dubai Court of First Instance.
The doctors, who worked at First Med Day Surgery Centre in Dubai, were sentenced to one year in prison on medical malpractice charges in March 2020.
But a travel ban was imposed on them as another civil compensation case is ongoing against the doctors.
The 59-year-old surgeon from the Dominican Republic, Syrian anaesthetist, 65, and technician, 69, failed to detect a drop in Emirati patient Rowdha Rashed Almaeeni’s blood pressure during the operation in April 2019.
Ms Almaeeni, 27, suffered a cardiac arrest and her brain was starved of oxygen for seven minutes, causing severe damage to her brain cells.
The medics had to pay Dh51,000 fine and the clinic paid Dh300,000.
A travel ban request was filed by the victim’s family as they sought compensation but the medics asked it to be overruled.
On Sunday, judge Ahmad Al Hareedi overturned the travel ban allowing them to leave the country once released.
Mr Abdullah Rashed, the victim’s father, said the decision came as a shock to his family.
"The decision is shocking," Mr Rashed, 51, told The National.
“If there was no intent to leave the country, why challenge the travel ban, especially when they will be released this month?
“How would it work that the doctors travel out of the country while a final judgement in the civil case is not yet issued?
“The doctors can simply arrange for travel and leave the country, then who should we chase for our claim?
“We have lost everything here. My family paid more than Dh700,000 in treatment costs, which is separate from the costs the government covered.”
Ms Almaeeni remains in coma at the family’s home following an unsuccessful treatment at a hospital in the US.
Sunday’s sentence was appealed by the family but they fear the doctors may leave the country before their request can be heard.
