the norms of their profession in a manner that causes injury to others. These provisions of law apply to all professionals, including physicians. Legislative efforts in many countries aim to achieve justice for the physician and the patient. The following legislation examples were either written or amended to serve this goal: 1. Jordan drafted a law regulating medical accountability to do justice to the physician and the patient. Jurists supported the regulation of this relationship through clear provisions of law which judges and lawyers could comprehend in their own clearly laid out terms instead of resorting to uncertain subjective interpretations. They now have legislation whereby the rights and obligations of all parties are clear. This draft law covers significant issues such as the formation of a High Technical Committee, which presents its technical opinion regarding medical malpractice-related complaints filed with the court or the Attorney General. It also provides that the health service provider who is accused of causing injury or death to a patient during therapeutic intervention should not be remanded during investigation of the case. It also demanded the Ministry establish a national registry of judicially documented medical errors. However, it has not ordered healthcare service providers to insure against civil liability arising from medical malpractice. 2. On 4 March 2002, the French Parliament attempted to balance between the rights of health care providers and the rights of the patients by substantiating the principle of liability arising from medical practice by health care providers. Concurrently, the lawmakers established a system (National Solidarity) to indemnify the victims of medical malpractice. The Parliament approved of Law No. 2002\303, which is relevant to patients' rights and health system quality. It provides for establishing a National Office for Compensation of Medical Malpractice. It was transformed into Law No. 1577\2002, issued in December, 2002. This binds the physician to hold a contract of insurance against civil liability and regulates the relationship between hospitals, insurance companies and the national office in regard to compensation for victims of medical malpractice.16 16 Saleh, "Physicians' Civil Liability...". Also see: Ashraf Jabir, Physicians' Insurance against Civil Liability (Cairo; Al-Nahda Al-Arabiya House, 1999) p. 472. 7