The "First Saudi Forum for Multidisciplinary Medical Assessment and Policy Integration" kicked off in Madinah, a landmark event aimed at highlighting mechanisms for addressing sexual abuse and assault cases. This two-day forum, held at the Academic Affairs and Training Department of the Ministry of Health branch, brings together leading experts and specialists from the health, security, judicial, and legal sectors, in a move to strengthen a unified national response to these sensitive issues.
A national context for promoting justice and protecting rights
This forum is being held at a time when the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is witnessing remarkable development in its judicial and healthcare systems, in line with the goals of Vision 2030, which focuses on quality of life and the protection of human rights. This event is of paramount importance as it establishes a comprehensive institutional framework linking accurate medical diagnosis with a fair judicial process. Previously, the challenges lay in the inconsistency of procedures among different entities, making this forum a pivotal turning point for standardizing protocols and ensuring that perpetrators do not escape punishment, while providing the highest levels of care and protection for victims, especially vulnerable groups such as children.
A unified national framework and professional development
At the outset of the forum, Dr. Faisal Al-Zubaidi, a forensic medicine consultant, emphasized that this gathering was a response to a pressing need for a unified national framework that integrates legal, medical, criminal, and social expertise. He noted that the Saudi Society for Forensic Medicine is working, as part of its strategy, to develop policies regulating forensic medical sciences, and announced the Society's intention to launch its first specialized professional development program to train physicians in handling cases of sexual assault according to a rigorous scientific methodology.
The forum aims primarily to improve the quality of medical documentation of reports, which is considered the cornerstone in criminal cases, in addition to enhancing the speed of medical response and ensuring the provision of integrated psychological and social support to cases in a timely manner.
Scientific sessions discussing forensic evidence and child protection
The first day witnessed a significant academic focus, with Sheikh Waleed Al-Hassan opening the sessions with a presentation on the role of security and legal authorities. He reviewed the experience of "interrogation rooms" specifically designed for children, which represents a qualitative leap in providing a safe listening environment that respects the child's psychological well-being and preserves their dignity. This was followed by a presentation by Dr. Adel Dakhilallah Al-Ayadhi on the role of protection centers, and by Dr. Ahmed Al-Aqilan, who elaborated on the technical aspects of evidence collection.
For her part, Dr. Fadia Al-Khattabi focused on the role of the health system and care pathways, while Dr. Nawaf Al-Juhani, a forensic medicine consultant, presented an advanced proposal on “building the criminal narrative,” explaining how medical history is transformed from mere words into a solid legal document, stressing that the accurate protocol is the safe bridge to restoring rights.
Integration between forensic medicine and psychological support
In a related context, consultant Dr. Khulood Al-Suwaigh presented on multidisciplinary interpretation, highlighting the importance of teamwork between forensic medicine, security agencies, and psychological support. She emphasized the principles of "victim-centered care" and the necessity of avoiding cognitive bias during assessment. The sessions concluded with a presentation by Dr. Raed Al-Obaidan, who reviewed practical cases demonstrating the precise differentiation between skin diseases and the effects of violence—a delicate technical aspect that underscores the importance of specialized expertise in achieving justice and preventing wrongful accusations or the loss of rights.
