.jpg?20260305')
A new legislation that would make doctors accountable for all medical errors, including those caused by deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, has been presented to Parliament.
The proposal, spearheaded by Strategic Thinking Bloc president and Parliament’s financial and economic affairs committee chairman MP Ahmed Al Salloom, seeks to ensure that human accountability and oversight remain paramount in healthcare, despite the increasing use of advanced technologies.
“If AI takes over, or is fully relied upon, in an operating theatre or hospital ward, rather than the responsible medic, then it is clearly a human error that should be penalised,” said Mr Al Salloom. “AI is 98 per cent reliable, but it should always be the human being knowing what’s going on. It is not like autopilot – medical human supervision is necessary,” he added.
The proposed amendments cover several landmark pieces of legislation, including the 1989 Human Medicine and Dentistry Law, the 2006 Labour Market Regulatory Law, the 2013 Supreme Council for Health Set-up Law and the 2018 Health Insurance Law.
Mr Al Salloom said the proposed reforms would safeguard patients’ rights while ensuring Bahrain remains at the forefront of responsible medical innovation.
Mr Al Salloom
“We are not against technology. On the contrary, Bahrain encourages AI applications as they improve precision, speed and efficiency,” he explained.
“But when it comes to life and death, the doctor can never step away. Accountability is what gives patients confidence in our medical system.”
His proposal has been welcomed by Bahrain Private Hospitals Society chairman Dr Hussain Al Meer, who stressed that the bill would provide much-needed clarity on accountability.
“If a doctor feels AI is a better judge than him or her, then they can sit at home,” said Dr Al Meer.
“It’s not that AI isn’t reliable; we are talking about possible errors and accountability. A human doctor should be fully responsible in the eyes of the profession, the oath, and the law.” Dr Al Meer added that the legislation would ‘draw a clear line’ for medical professionals to follow in an era where artificial intelligence tools are increasingly being introduced in diagnosis, treatment planning and surgical support.
Dr Al Meer
He warned against allowing technology to ‘take over critical decision-making’ in patient care.
“AI can support doctors, but it must never replace their judgement,” he said.
“A patient entrusts their life to a doctor – not to a machine. The law has to reflect that trust.”
The debate over AI in medicine has been growing globally, with hospitals adopting AI-powered diagnostic systems and robotic surgery aids at an unprecedented pace.
While advocates point to efficiency gains and reduced human error, critics caution that over-reliance on algorithms could blur the line of responsibility when mistakes happen.
If passed, the amendments would place Bahrain among the first countries in the region to legislate AI use in medicine by explicitly requiring human oversight at all times.
The Bloc believes this move will strike the right balance, embracing futuristic innovation while preserving the irreplaceable role of human judgement in safeguarding lives.
Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al Musallam has referred the proposal to the services committee for review.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))