DOHA: The Supreme Council of Health (SCH) has asked all healthcare facilities and practitioners in the country not to conduct medical examination on minors (children under 18 years) in the absence of a parent, guardian or adult relative.
The SCH has warned of action against practitioners and facilities failing to comply with the directive. However, emergency cases are exempted from the rule.
Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) recently instructed all its paediatric emergency centres not to treat children not accompanied by parents.
SCH, the health regulatory body, has now made it mandatory for all facilities and practitioners in the private and public sectors.
“Examination of a minor should be in the presence of his/her parent/guardian or an adult relative, with the exception of emergency cases where healthcare providers should undertake necessary interventions to stabilise the case until his/her parents/guardians arrive,” Qatar Council for Healthcare practitioners (QCHP) at SCH said in a circular issued to all practitioners and facilities.
Health experts and authorities had earlier warned parents about the danger of sending their children to a doctor or clinic accompanied by a housemaid or driver who are not supposed to have enough knowledge about the child’s health condition or medical history.
The circular said Law No. 22 of 2004 defines adults as those aged 18 years and above. Anyone below this age is considered a minor (underaged) and not legally responsible for their actions.
Besides medical examinations, discussions on treatment plans and surgical interventions for minors should also be in the presence of parents/guardians.
Medications for minors should be prescribed only in the presence of parents/guardians, said the circular.
Consent for minors (for treatment and surgical procedures, among others) should be signed by parents/guardians only; the signature of the “underaged patient” will not be accepted.
“QCHP/SCH will take actions against non-compliant practitioners and healthcare facilities,” said the circular.
The Peninsula
