The first Saudi Medical Assessment Forum kicks off in Madinah
Madinah witnessed the launch of the "First Saudi Forum for Multidisciplinary Medical Assessment and Policy Integration in Cases of Sexual Abuse and Assault," hosted by the Academic Affairs and Training Department at the Ministry of Health branch in the region. This important event saw wide participation from leading experts and specialists in the health, security, judicial, and legal sectors, with the aim of developing a unified national framework for addressing these sensitive issues.
National context for promoting protection and justice
This forum is being held at a time when the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is witnessing remarkable development in its legislative and legal framework, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030, which places great emphasis on quality of life and the protection of human rights. The forum reflects the ongoing efforts to activate the "Protection from Abuse Law" and its implementing regulations by bridging the gap between legislation and its practical application, and ensuring the integration of roles between forensic doctors, investigators, and judges to guarantee the rights of victims.
Strategic goals and professional development
At the outset of the event, Dr. Faisal Al-Zubaidi, a forensic medicine consultant, emphasized that the forum was convened in response to a pressing national need to unify efforts across various sectors. He announced the Saudi Society for Forensic Medicine's intention to launch its first specialized professional development program to train physicians in handling cases of sexual assault, employing a rigorous scientific methodology to ensure the competence of their professional practice.
This scientific movement aims to improve the quality of medical documentation of reports, accelerate the pace of medical response, and ensure that the necessary psychological and social support is provided to victims in a timely manner, thus contributing to achieving effective justice.
Scientific sessions discussing protection and investigation mechanisms
The first day of the forum included a series of intensive scientific sessions that covered legal and medical aspects:
- Legal and security track: In his paper “From Report to Court,” Sheikh Walid Al-Hassan reviewed the role of security and legal authorities, highlighting the experience of “interrogation rooms” for children, which is a qualitative leap in providing a safe environment that takes into account the child’s psychology and preserves his dignity during the investigation.
- Protection System: Dr. Adel Dakhilallah Al-Ayadhi discussed the role of protection centers and how they can be integrated with other sectors to ensure a comprehensive safety net for those affected.
- Forensic Medicine and Evidence: Dr. Ahmed Al-Aqeelan gave a presentation on the technical aspects of collecting evidence and preparing forensic medical reports upon which the judiciary relies in issuing judgments.
- Health response: Dr. Fadia Al-Khattabi discussed the role of the health system and pathways for medical care and psychological support within health facilities.
Accuracy of diagnosis and construction of the criminal narrative
In a more advanced presentation, Dr. Nawaf Al-Juhani discussed the importance of "constructing the criminal narrative" and the protocol for taking a medical history, explaining how a medical report becomes a legally binding document. Dr. Khulood Al-Suwaigh also emphasized the importance of multidisciplinary interpretation and avoiding cognitive bias, stressing the role of peer review in ensuring the quality of the findings.
The sessions concluded with a presentation by Dr. Raed Al-Obaidan on the diagnostic challenges in differentiating between skin diseases and the effects of violence, stressing that specialized expertise is the deciding factor in achieving justice and protecting innocent people from false accusations or the loss of rights.
