In reference to the news published in the social networking websites about the case of Dhafer Al-Shehrani, the High Medical Commission would like to point out that it has examined his health status before, and recommended that his treatment should continue at Prince Sultan Military Medical City in Riyadh, where his treatment is available, as he has been suffering from complete quadriplegia, due to a car accident.
Within the same vein, the commission has pointed out that it has previously issued the decision No. 1534, dated 6th January, 2014 (corresponding to 5th Rabee‘ Al-Awwal, 1435H), recommending the extension of the patient’s treatment at Prince Sultan Military Medical City in Riyadh, for the availability of his treatment there. Then, the commission has examined his health status two more times, issued its second decision No. 2011, dated 22nd January, 2014 (corresponding to 21st Rabee‘ Al-Awwal, 1435H), as well as its third decision No. 3534, dated 27th March, 2014 (corresponding to 26th Jumada Al-Oula, 1435H), recommending the continuation of his treatment at the medical city.
It is worth mentioning that those cases, in need of treatment abroad, are examined by the High Medical Commission, which acts as an independent and accredited authority, pursuant to the Royal Decree No. (8766/B), dated 28the October, 1998 (corresponding to 15th Jumada Al-Akher, 1417 H), and the Royal Decree No. (4700/B), dated 3rd May, 2009 (corresponding to 8th Jumada Al-Oula, 1430 H). These decrees stipulate that the High Medical Commission is entrusted to examine all cases referred to the Ministry of Health (MOH) for treatment abroad. The Commission is composed of the health sectors in the Kingdom, including: the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Defense and Aviation, the Ministry of Interior, the National Guard, King Saud University and King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center. Thus, this Commission is fully aware of all the available capabilities of the specialized referential hospitals in the Kingdom.