Terms and Conditions

1.1:The website sahmed.ae (the "Website") is operated by Sameera Alhammadi Forensic Medicine Consultancy LLC (سميرة الحمادي لاستشارات الطب الشرعي ش ذ م م), a limited liability company licensed in the Emirate of Dubai by the Department of Economy and Tourism under trade licence no. 1653591, with its head office at Office 320-101, Property of Abdullah Mohammed Amin Al Abdullah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and with a branch in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi licensed by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (together, "SAHM", "we", "us" or "our").

1.2:These Website Terms and Conditions (the "Terms") govern: (a) your access to and use of the Website; and (b) the booking of, and payment for, Initial Consultations through the Website. They also apply to Engagements to the extent described in clause 6.

1.3:By accessing or using the Website, you agree to these Terms insofar as they relate to use of the Website. Booking an Initial Consultation requires your express acceptance of these Terms at the time of booking. If you do not agree with these Terms, please do not use the Website.

1.4:Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts or waives any right you have under the mandatory laws of the United Arab Emirates, including any law for the protection of consumers. Where any provision of these Terms conflicts with such a law, that law prevails.

2.1:In these Terms, the following words have the meanings set out below:

"Client" means any individual or entity that books an Initial Consultation or enters into an Engagement with SAHM.

"Engagement" means any professional service provided by SAHM other than an Initial Consultation, under an Engagement Letter.

"Engagement Letter" means the written proposal, engagement letter or agreement signed by SAHM and the Client that sets out the scope, fees and terms of a specific Engagement.

"Initial Consultation" means the introductory consultation that may be booked and paid for through the Website, as described on the booking page at the time of booking.

"Professional" means a physician, forensic expert or other specialist engaged by SAHM to provide, or contribute to, the Services.

"Purpose" means the purpose for which a Report is commissioned, as stated in the Engagement Letter.

"Report" means any written opinion, report, assessment, review, summary or other deliverable prepared by or on behalf of SAHM.

"Services" means the professional services described in clause 3.

"you" or "User" means any person who accesses or uses the Website, and, where the context requires, the Client.

2.2:Headings are for convenience only. Words in the singular include the plural and vice versa. The word "including" means "including without limitation".

3.1:SAHM provides independent forensic medicine and medico-legal consultancy services. Depending on the matter, these may include:

(a) medico-legal opinions and review of medical records and clinical documentation;

(b) assessments relating to alleged medical negligence, personal injury and disability;

(c) expert evidence, and attendance before courts, arbitral tribunals and other competent bodies;

(d) forensic medical examination of living persons;

(e) review of post-mortem findings, including review of post-mortem imaging (virtual autopsy);

(f) litigation support to lawyers and law firms, including review of other experts' reports;

(g) review of cases originating outside the United Arab Emirates; and

(h) training and professional education.

3.2:Forensic medical examinations of living persons are carried out only at duly licensed healthcare facilities, in accordance with the requirements of the competent health authority.

3.3:Each Service is provided only to the extent permitted by SAHM's licences and by the individual licences, registrations and authorisations of the Professional concerned. We may decline any request that falls outside those licences or outside a Professional's area of expertise.

3.4:Dr. Sameera Alhammadi is registered as an expert with the UAE Ministry of Justice, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department and Dubai Courts. Other Professionals act within their own qualifications and authorisations, which will be identified in the relevant Engagement Letter or Report.

3.5:A Report commissioned privately by a Client is a party-commissioned expert opinion. It is not an expert report appointed by a court or other competent authority unless that court or authority has formally appointed SAHM or the Professional concerned. Any such formal appointment is governed by the applicable law and the terms of the appointment.

3.6:The Services are forensic and medico-legal in nature. They are not intended to provide clinical diagnosis or treatment for the purposes of a person's medical care, and they do not create a doctor–patient treatment relationship. SAHM is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.

3.7:The content of the Website is general information only. It is not medical advice, legal advice or a Report, and it should not be relied on as such.

4.1:Submitting a contact form, sending a WhatsApp message or email, uploading documents, or receiving an automated acknowledgement does not, on its own, create an Engagement, an expert appointment, a doctor–patient relationship or any obligation on SAHM to provide Services.

4.2:An Engagement is formed only when an Engagement Letter has been signed by SAHM and the Client and any advance payment stated in it has been received, unless the Engagement Letter provides otherwise.

4.3:Before accepting any Engagement, we carry out a conflict of interest check. We may decline an enquiry or an Engagement, in particular where a conflict of interest exists or where the request falls outside our licences or expertise.

4.4:The Website and our messaging channels are not monitored at all times and must not be used for emergencies. In a medical emergency, call 998 (Ambulance). In an emergency requiring the police, call 999.

4.5:Please inform us of any court, tribunal or other deadline at the time of your enquiry. We cannot guarantee that any deadline will be met until an Engagement has been confirmed.

5.1:The nature, duration, format and fee of an Initial Consultation are as shown on the booking page at the time of booking. Fees are stated in UAE Dirhams (AED). SAHM is not currently registered for Value Added Tax; if it becomes registered, VAT will be charged where required by law.

5.2:The Initial Consultation fee is payable in full at the time of booking. Card payments are processed by a third-party payment service provider under its own terms and security standards.

5.3:A booking is confirmed only when SAHM sends you a booking confirmation.

5.4:An Initial Consultation is a preliminary discussion. Unless stated otherwise on the booking page, it does not include a written Report or the detailed review of medical records. Any view expressed during an Initial Consultation is preliminary, is based only on the information then available, and must not be relied on as a Report.

5.5:Rescheduling: you may reschedule a confirmed Initial Consultation once, free of charge, by notifying us at least 24 hours before the scheduled time. Further rescheduling is at SAHM's discretion.

5.6:Refunds: once a booking has been confirmed, the Initial Consultation fee is not refundable, except that you will receive a full refund where: (a) SAHM cancels the Initial Consultation, or is unable to provide it, and an alternative time acceptable to you cannot be agreed; or (b) a refund is required by applicable law.

5.7:Non-attendance: if you do not attend a confirmed Initial Consultation and have not rescheduled it in accordance with clause 5.5, the Initial Consultation will be treated as cancelled without refund, subject to clause 5.6.

5.8:Any refund will be made to the original payment method within 30 working days of being approved.

6.1:All Services other than Initial Consultations are provided only under an Engagement Letter. Fees for Engagements are agreed case by case and are set out in the Engagement Letter, including the fee basis, any advance payment, and any expenses (such as travel, third-party specialists, laboratory or imaging costs).

6.2:These Terms apply to each Engagement to the extent that the matter is not addressed in the Engagement Letter. If there is a conflict between these Terms and an Engagement Letter, the Engagement Letter prevails for that Engagement.

6.3:Termination by the Client: the Client may terminate an Engagement at any time by written notice. SAHM will be entitled to fees for work performed and expenses incurred up to the date of termination, as set out in the Engagement Letter, and will refund any balance of fees paid in advance within 30 working days.

6.4:Suspension: if fees due under an Engagement Letter are not paid when due, SAHM may suspend work on written notice until payment is received, provided that this does not breach any duty owed to a court or tribunal.

6.5:Withdrawal by SAHM: SAHM may decline to continue, or may terminate, an Engagement on written notice for legitimate legal, ethical, professional or operational reasons, including: a conflict of interest; a request to change an opinion for reasons other than factual error or new evidence; a lack of cooperation that prevents proper performance; non-payment; or a concern that the Services are being used for an unlawful purpose. In such a case, SAHM will refund any fees paid in advance for work not performed and will act consistently with any duty owed to a court or tribunal.

6.6:Draft Reports: whether a draft Report is provided depends on the Engagement Letter. Where a draft is provided, the Client may comment on matters of fact only. The content of the opinion, and the final Report, remain the responsibility and decision of SAHM and the Professional concerned.

7.1:Our opinions are independent and impartial. They reflect the honest professional assessment of the Professional concerned, based on the evidence available. We do not act as advocates for any party.

7.2:Our fees are not dependent on the outcome of any matter or on the content of any opinion.

7.3:Where a Professional gives evidence before a court or tribunal, any duty owed to that court or tribunal under the applicable law takes precedence over any obligation owed to the instructing party.

7.4:We will not change an opinion at the request of a Client, except to correct a factual error or to take account of new or additional evidence.

7.5:Our independence does not reduce our obligation to provide the Services with the reasonable skill and care expected of a competent professional in the relevant field.

8.1:Each Report is based on the documents, records, examination findings and information available to the Professional at the time it is prepared. Where practicable, a Report distinguishes between facts, assumptions and opinions.

8.2:The accuracy of a Report depends on the accuracy and completeness of the information supplied. SAHM is not responsible for errors arising from information supplied by the Client or third parties that is inaccurate, incomplete or misleading, except to the extent that a competent professional exercising reasonable care should have identified the problem.

8.3:An opinion may change if new or additional evidence becomes available. Where appropriate, SAHM may issue a supplementary or revised Report. Supplementary work may be charged as set out in the Engagement Letter.

8.4:SAHM does not guarantee any particular outcome, including the decision of any court, tribunal, authority, insurer or employer, or the result of any settlement.

8.5:Each Report is prepared for the named Client and for the Purpose only.

9.1:The Client agrees to:

(a) provide accurate, complete and timely information and records, and disclose all facts that the Client knows to be relevant;

(b) ensure that it has the right, authority and any consent required by law to provide each document and all personal or health information it supplies, including information about patients, deceased persons or other third parties;

(c) inform SAHM of any relevant deadline, procedural requirement or court order;

(d) respond within a reasonable time to reasonable requests for clarification or further information;

(e) not alter, fabricate or misrepresent any evidence or document;

(f) notify SAHM promptly of any material change in circumstances or any newly discovered evidence;

(g) use each Report only lawfully and for the Purpose; and

(h) pay the agreed fees and expenses when due.

9.2:Delays caused by missing information or a lack of cooperation may affect timelines and fees, as set out in the Engagement Letter.

10.1:Copyright and other intellectual property rights in each Report remain with SAHM. Subject to payment of the fees due, the Client receives a non-exclusive licence to use the Report for the Purpose, including submission to a court, arbitral tribunal, competent authority or insurer, and disclosure to the Client's legal advisers.

10.2:The Client must not modify a Report, present extracts of it out of context, or publish it (including on social media), except as required by law or as agreed with SAHM in writing.

10.3:A Report is prepared for the Client only. To the extent permitted by applicable law, SAHM accepts no responsibility to any third party who relies on a Report without SAHM's written agreement.

10.4:Documents supplied by the Client remain the property of the Client or of their owner. SAHM may retain copies as required for its professional records and by applicable law.

11.1:SAHM treats all Client information and case material as confidential. Access is limited to the Professionals and staff who need it to perform the Services.

11.2:SAHM may disclose confidential information only: (a) with the Client's consent; (b) where required by law, by a court order, or by a competent authority or professional regulator; (c) to Professionals or service providers who need it for the Engagement and who are bound by confidentiality obligations; (d) to its professional advisers and insurers, in confidence; or (e) where reasonably necessary to establish, exercise or defend its legal rights.

11.3:These confidentiality obligations continue after an Engagement ends.

11.4:SAHM does not use identifiable case information in training, teaching or publications without written consent.

12.1:SAHM processes personal data, including health data, in accordance with the applicable laws of the United Arab Emirates, including laws governing health information. For information about how we handle your personal data, please contact us at Ahmed@sahfmc.com.

12.2:Only upload documents that you are entitled to share. By uploading documents, you confirm that you hold the necessary consent or legal authority, for example as the person concerned, their legal representative, their next of kin where permitted by law, or a lawyer or organisation authorised to act.

12.3:Health information will be processed through the Website only where you give separate, express consent at the time of submission. Acceptance of these Terms is not, by itself, consent to the processing of health information.

12.4:SAHM will not transfer health information outside the United Arab Emirates except as permitted by applicable law.

12.5:Personal data and case records are retained for the period required by applicable law and by our professional obligations, and are then securely deleted or returned.

12.6:For your protection, please do not send medical records or other sensitive documents through WhatsApp or ordinary email. Use the secure upload facility on the Website or another secure channel agreed with us.

12.7:No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure. SAHM takes reasonable measures to protect information but cannot guarantee the security of information while it is being transmitted to us.

13.1:The SAHM name, logo and branding, and the text, graphics, educational materials and other original content of the Website, are owned by or licensed to SAHM. Third-party materials remain the property of their respective owners.

13.2:You may view and print pages of the Website for your personal or internal professional use. You must not copy, reproduce, republish, modify or commercially exploit any content of the Website without SAHM's prior written permission.

14.1:You must not: (a) use the Website for any unlawful purpose; (b) submit false, misleading or unlawfully obtained information or documents; (c) upload viruses or other harmful code; (d) attempt to gain unauthorised access to the Website, its servers or any connected system; (e) impersonate any person or misrepresent your authority to act for another person; or (f) use automated means to extract content from the Website.

14.2:SAHM may suspend or restrict access to the Website, or to any of its features, where it reasonably believes that these Terms have been breached, and may report unlawful activity to the competent authorities.

15.1:The Website is provided on an "as available" basis. SAHM does not guarantee that the Website will be uninterrupted or error-free, and may suspend or change it for maintenance or other reasons.

15.2:The Website uses third-party services, such as payment processing, booking tools and messaging applications (including WhatsApp). Your use of those services is also subject to their own terms. SAHM is not responsible for third-party websites or services that it does not control.

16.1:Nothing in these Terms or in any Engagement Letter excludes or limits SAHM's liability for fraud, wilful misconduct or gross negligence, or any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited under the applicable laws of the United Arab Emirates.

16.2:SAHM will provide the Services with the reasonable skill and care expected of a competent professional in the relevant field.

16.3:The general information on the Website is provided for information only. To the extent permitted by law, SAHM is not liable for any loss arising from reliance on general Website content.

16.4:Subject to clause 16.1, and unless an Engagement Letter provides otherwise, SAHM's total aggregate liability arising from or in connection with an Initial Consultation or an Engagement, whether in contract, tort or otherwise, is limited to the total fees paid by the Client for the specific Service giving rise to the claim.

16.5:Subject to clause 16.1, and to the extent permitted by law, SAHM is not liable for any loss to the extent it results from: (a) information supplied by the Client or third parties that is inaccurate, incomplete or misleading; (b) decisions made by any court, tribunal, authority, insurer, employer or other third party; (c) use of a Report other than for the Purpose; or (d) the acts or omissions of laboratories, healthcare facilities, technology providers or other third parties not under SAHM's control.

16.6:SAHM is not liable for any delay or failure to perform caused by events beyond its reasonable control, including natural disasters, epidemics, governmental action, power or telecommunications failure, or cyber-attacks not caused by its failure to take reasonable precautions.

16.7:If you have a concern about a Report or a Service, please notify us promptly so that we have the opportunity to review it and, where appropriate, correct it.

17.1:Complaints should be sent in writing to Ahmed@sahfmc.com, with details of the matter and of the concern. We will acknowledge receipt within 3 working days and aim to respond in full within 15 working days. Where practicable, a complaint will be reviewed by a person who was not directly involved in the matter.

17.2:This complaints procedure does not affect your right to contact any competent regulatory or consumer protection authority, or to bring proceedings in accordance with clause 19.

18.1:You agree that communications, notices and acceptances made electronically, including through the Website and by email, satisfy any requirement that they be in writing, to the extent permitted by law. SAHM's electronic records of bookings and acceptances may be used as evidence of them.

18.2:SAHM may update these Terms from time to time. The version number and effective date are shown at the top of these Terms. The version in force at the time of your booking applies to that booking. Changes will not affect an Engagement already confirmed unless agreed in writing.

19.1:These Terms are governed by the laws of the Emirate of Dubai and the federal laws of the United Arab Emirates applicable in it.

19.2:The parties will first seek to resolve any dispute amicably, including through the complaints procedure in clause 17.

19.3:Subject to any mandatory rule of jurisdiction under applicable law, the courts of the Emirate of Dubai have jurisdiction over any dispute arising from or in connection with these Terms, the Website or any Initial Consultation.

20.1:These Terms are issued in Arabic and English. If there is any inconsistency between the two versions, the Arabic version prevails.

21.1:If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in full force, and the provision concerned will be applied to the maximum extent permitted by law.

21.2:A failure or delay by SAHM in enforcing any provision is not a waiver of its rights.

21.3:You may not transfer your rights or obligations under these Terms without SAHM's prior written consent.

Sameera Alhammadi Forensic Medicine Consultancy LLC

Head office: Office 320-101, Property of Abdullah Mohammed Amin Al Abdullah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Email (including legal notices and complaints): Ahmed@sahfmc.com

Telephone: +971 56 101 9999

Website: sahmed.ae