Q: I have spent more than Dh150,000 on fertility treatment. The clinic in Dubai assured me it would be a success. Despite several phases of painful and expensive treatment, however, nothing has worked. When I asked the hospital about this they said they cannot take the responsibility. Am I eligible to claim the total reimbursement of my money that I spent on the hospital bills?
A: Any damages or reimbursement arising from failure of the treatment depends on your contractual relationship with the clinic. If there is a signed contract that clearly states your entitlement or reimbursement in the event of a failure of treatment then you have a right to claim reimbursement. However, if the risks involved in the procedure were explained to you, specifically that the treatment might not work on you, and if you had consented to treatment despite knowing all the risks, then you are not entitled to claim reimbursement unless there was medical negligence.
Q: Can rotten fruit be returned to the grocery shop where I bought it?
A: Rotten fruit can be returned immediately upon discovery of fault. As per Law No 24 of 2006, goods shall be returned when the product is faulty or does not match the description. You must ensure that fruits and vegetables are returned within a reasonable time frame.
Q: What are my rights in trying to stop a passenger sitting next to me on a plane from smoking or drinking alcohol?
A: As per the law, smoking is not allowed on airline flights. This means that you have the right to notify a flight attendant if a passenger next to you is smoking. If any passenger is causing nuisance to others as a result of excessive drinking then, again, you may complaint to a flight attendant. Appropriate legal action can be taken against a passenger who is causing a nuisance.
If you have a question for our lawyer, email newsdesk@thenational.ae with the subject line ‘Consumer Q&A’.