Report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

Chapter V — Events at Salmaniya Medical Complex
834. Among the medical personnel who stated concerns about SMC’s
capabilities to face what they considered to be a developing medical crisis,
some had political ties with the opposition and pursued a political agenda.
Among them were some who were seen leading demonstrations and chants
against the regime both outside and inside SMC. These persons moved in and
out of their roles as political activists and medical personnel, the latter being
expected to carry out their professional, ethical and legal duties and
responsibilities.
835. Concerning the GoB’s claims that the accused medical staff
intentionally spread false rumours and information about the events at SMC,
there is evidence supporting these claims with respect to some, but not all, of
the medical personnel. 447 In relation to the allegation that a member of the
medical staff gave false statements to the media concerning the number of
injured at SMC, records show that during mid-February when the statement
was given, hundreds of crisis patients did indeed visit SMC as a result of
clashes between protesters and security forces. 448 The allegation that medical
staff used atropine on patients to incriminate security forces could not be
established by the Commission. Concerning individuals impersonating
medical staff, the Commission could establish that at least one individual
impersonated an SMC medical staff member. Video footage was received
showing an individual who was not a staff member at SMC giving false
information to an unknown news agency.
836. Concerning whether the accused medical staff granted media access
to SMC, article 13 of the Bahrain Charter of Medical Ethics needs to be taken
into consideration. Article 13 provides that a doctor owes a duty of
confidentiality to patients, unless a crime has occurred. The presence of
media at SMC during the events of February/March 2011 is shown in a large
number of video clips and photographs showing media personnel freely
moving inside the Emergency Section. The Commission was unable to
establish whether the media was given access to SMC by medical staff, by
others, or whether the media simply pushed its way inside the hospital without
the help of an insider. The medical staff, however, did not attempt to prevent
the media from filming inside the Emergency Section and on the ground floor
of SMC in general, thus contravening the Code of Ethics in terms of patient
confidentiality. 449
837. The Commission concluded that unauthorised marches and protests
did take place inside and outside SMC. The allegations faced by the medical
staff concerning the participation and organisation of marches on the premises
447 For reasons mentioned above, the Commission will not comment on the validity of legal
charges concerning spreading of false rumours or any matters arising out of the application of
article 168 of the Bahrain Penal Code. Nevertheless, it is important to note that, at the hearing
before the Court of Appeals of 23 October 2011, the Attorney General withdrew charges
against the medical personnel arising out of article 168. He also withdrew charges arising out
of articles 165 and 169.
448 See paragraph 681.
449 One of the doctors interviewed by the media showed the ID cards of patients allegedly
working for the security forces, thus breaching the confidentiality requirement of the Charter
of Medical Ethics.
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