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Doctor in the Dock
DR. ARIZA MOHAMED is currently an Associate Professor with UniKL- RCMP in Ipoh. She teaches medical students. One of the topics she taught was on pre-term labour. She graduated as a specialist in 1997. She worked as a consultant specialist in several hospitals before joining the university.
She led a fairly quiet life until she was summoned in 2018 by her patient 15 years before for severe prematurity which had unfortunately ended as cerebral palsy. She had to endure a trial which spans over 4 years and finally concluded in 2022. She was found to be liable for medical negligence and was ordered to pay damages amounting to RM8.9 million - which was the highest damages ever awarded at the time of writing.
This book is about the court proceedings, about the trials and tribulations she had to undergo, what she had learned from it and how it had affected her. She wishes to share her story to other doctors or would be doctors, lawyers, would be lawyers and also the public.
She led a fairly quiet life until she was summoned in 2018 by her patient 15 years before for severe prematurity which had unfortunately ended as cerebral palsy. She had to endure a trial which spans over 4 years and finally concluded in 2022. She was found to be liable for medical negligence and was ordered to pay damages amounting to RM8.9 million - which was the highest damages ever awarded at the time of writing.
This book is about the court proceedings, about the trials and tribulations she had to undergo, what she had learned from it and how it had affected her. She wishes to share her story to other doctors or would be doctors, lawyers, would be lawyers and also the public.
162 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2023
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34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 28, 2024
Sampai semalam, hari ni dah habis baca. Yeap its one of those books.
Kebelakangan ni memang saya banyak habiskan masa baca fiksyen perundangan dan kadang tu terselit autobiografi perundangan (contoh buku Dr Ariza ni, Marcia Clark - pendakwaraya kes OJ Simpson etc). Jadi minat tu tgh semarak. Tambah pula kena tuba dgn Dr Rafidah + Dr Azizi.
Ni buku yg sunat muakkad peguam litigasi baca. Dr Ariza berjaya bawa perspektif defendan yg dah tentu marah, kecewa, letih, sedih, terbeban dgn interaksi bersama peguam. Ada beberapa bahagian yg nampak nor dia nak maki peguam tapi dia berkias. Dan bila kita duduk fahami perasaan dia sebagai defendan, boleh je faham kenapa.
So litigators lets talk:
1) cases on contigency basis - is this ethical? Ive done twice and both times were difficult for me, since then Ive vowed to never ever take up cases (regardless of how desperate i am - God knows there were many atimes) on contigency basis UNLESS its for family or close friends.
2) not advising your clients before taking instruction - is this even real? Retainer alone was RM10k yet filing and withdrawing applications without proper instruction by clients. If this is real, besties please remember we too can be sued for negligent ya.
3) submitting from the Bar - do we do this? Your cross questions kena crisp as hell ya. Sikit lagi nak rentung. It cant be loose and floose for you to be able to refer to it during submissions. Overstretching the witnesses' answers in your submission is not just submitting from the bar, its unethical.
4) managing professionalism, emotions and perceptions - have you learnt how to? Teach me if you have, please. This has always been a tricky part for me. Between putting my entire weight on the case to fight for my clients and the obligation to honor professionalism to EVERYBODY. Often time we get sucked into a case and we fight it while losing sight of the actual goals.
For a small fish, this book serves as a huge reminder.
Kebelakangan ni memang saya banyak habiskan masa baca fiksyen perundangan dan kadang tu terselit autobiografi perundangan (contoh buku Dr Ariza ni, Marcia Clark - pendakwaraya kes OJ Simpson etc). Jadi minat tu tgh semarak. Tambah pula kena tuba dgn Dr Rafidah + Dr Azizi.
Ni buku yg sunat muakkad peguam litigasi baca. Dr Ariza berjaya bawa perspektif defendan yg dah tentu marah, kecewa, letih, sedih, terbeban dgn interaksi bersama peguam. Ada beberapa bahagian yg nampak nor dia nak maki peguam tapi dia berkias. Dan bila kita duduk fahami perasaan dia sebagai defendan, boleh je faham kenapa.
So litigators lets talk:
1) cases on contigency basis - is this ethical? Ive done twice and both times were difficult for me, since then Ive vowed to never ever take up cases (regardless of how desperate i am - God knows there were many atimes) on contigency basis UNLESS its for family or close friends.
2) not advising your clients before taking instruction - is this even real? Retainer alone was RM10k yet filing and withdrawing applications without proper instruction by clients. If this is real, besties please remember we too can be sued for negligent ya.
3) submitting from the Bar - do we do this? Your cross questions kena crisp as hell ya. Sikit lagi nak rentung. It cant be loose and floose for you to be able to refer to it during submissions. Overstretching the witnesses' answers in your submission is not just submitting from the bar, its unethical.
4) managing professionalism, emotions and perceptions - have you learnt how to? Teach me if you have, please. This has always been a tricky part for me. Between putting my entire weight on the case to fight for my clients and the obligation to honor professionalism to EVERYBODY. Often time we get sucked into a case and we fight it while losing sight of the actual goals.
For a small fish, this book serves as a huge reminder.
March 17, 2024
Bought with great expectations based on recommendations. Was disappointed by the writing. It was messy - was the author trying dark comedy? spirituality? scientific?...At a point, it was just plain narcissisim and of course some language that a doctor wouldn't use, and things that were irrelevant to the narration. Needs more polishing. "A" for effort.
August 19, 2025
such a good read! A MUST READ especially for those in healthcare
April 8, 2025
So messy. This sounds mean, but... Agak syok sendiri betul buku ni 😂 What do you mean:
"I am actually glad that we do not have the jury system. I fear the jurors may not find me likeable and may sympathise with the handicapped child. I pitied the child too and I understand how difficult it must be for the parents, but I cannot be made liable so they could live an easier life. I cannot be made the sacrificial lamb? That wouldn't be fair."
Say sike right now because ickkkk.
And it’s kinda weird when the author questioned her past decision to save the baby and wrote down that perhaps it would have been better if she had counseled the parents and let the baby “go off peacefully.” At first, I was like: oh wow, okayyyy... but fair, I guess??? I would be this petty too after losing a suit to a patient(s) I had saved and then having to pay millions in compensation money. But nope. (Spoiler: she and another defendant were found not liable for medical negligence.)
There’s also not a single ounce of humility or (sincere-sounding) self-reflection in the writing. “What about me? Me? Me? Me?” That’s all I heard. She’s ranting and chattering like the readers are her close friends or family members, expecting us to nod in agreement at her opinions, shake our heads at her predicaments, and chuckle along at her dark jokes. But we’re not friends. We’re strangers. My knowledge of her only extends to the words in the blurb. So the author comes off as an unlikable person—full of herself and very, very bitter. But to be fair, who wouldn’t be bitter after what she went through? I know I would be.
This book mainly touches on law and spirituality rather than the doctor’s own personal journey, which is such a wasted golden opportunity considering not many of us can say, “I survived getting my ass sued for 8+ million.” Like who caressss about all this technical law jargon and past case examples? Screw them. I want to know more about YOU. You as a person. You as a doctor, a woman, a wife, and a mother. What about your family’s and friends’ reactions? I’m not a law practitioner or a law student. I’m just an average reader who is very, very impatient after spending 28 bucks on this book 😂 I don’t mind the medical parts because the author is a doctor/specialist.
Also, Mr. Marwan deserves more than just credit—he should be the co-author 😂 Without his yapping, the book would be quite thin. I feel like the author should have used his comments to better edit and proofread her parts, but nope, she just slapped them in there like a last-minute group project patchwork and called it a day. By doing that, he unwittingly becomes like an annoying commentary track, like a mosquito buzzing in the background, narrating in the reader’s ear. I’m tired of reading her part about the law—again, not her expertise, so naturally, I don’t trust her opinions—and then having to read Mr. Marwan’s comments just to confirm what she said.
I do, however, feel bad for the author. I’m sure the trial and everything throughout the process was like crawling naked on shards of broken glass. At one point, I almost cried when reading this simple paragraph:
“I remember while the Judge and the prosecutor was bargaining on how much to award the Plaintiff, and we were watching in disbelief. The Judge stole a look at us and said these words, ‘This is not a punishment for the doctors, this is to compensate the plaintiff.’”
I don’t know why, but my heart broke when I read the line said by the judge. I could tell that the judge was trying to lift the doctors’ spirits after the judgment was read to them. But the author ruined the moment quickly with another random spill about types of charges/damages in law. There’s not enough softness to this book, if you know what I mean. As a doctor, yes, you need to toughen up. But as a writer? It’s a different story.
Anyway, this book is a good recommendation for law students and doctors. Especially doctors. Get and (don’t forget to) renew that damn insurance, y’hear me? 😂
"I am actually glad that we do not have the jury system. I fear the jurors may not find me likeable and may sympathise with the handicapped child. I pitied the child too and I understand how difficult it must be for the parents, but I cannot be made liable so they could live an easier life. I cannot be made the sacrificial lamb? That wouldn't be fair."
Say sike right now because ickkkk.
And it’s kinda weird when the author questioned her past decision to save the baby and wrote down that perhaps it would have been better if she had counseled the parents and let the baby “go off peacefully.” At first, I was like: oh wow, okayyyy... but fair, I guess??? I would be this petty too after losing a suit to a patient(s) I had saved and then having to pay millions in compensation money. But nope. (Spoiler: she and another defendant were found not liable for medical negligence.)
There’s also not a single ounce of humility or (sincere-sounding) self-reflection in the writing. “What about me? Me? Me? Me?” That’s all I heard. She’s ranting and chattering like the readers are her close friends or family members, expecting us to nod in agreement at her opinions, shake our heads at her predicaments, and chuckle along at her dark jokes. But we’re not friends. We’re strangers. My knowledge of her only extends to the words in the blurb. So the author comes off as an unlikable person—full of herself and very, very bitter. But to be fair, who wouldn’t be bitter after what she went through? I know I would be.
This book mainly touches on law and spirituality rather than the doctor’s own personal journey, which is such a wasted golden opportunity considering not many of us can say, “I survived getting my ass sued for 8+ million.” Like who caressss about all this technical law jargon and past case examples? Screw them. I want to know more about YOU. You as a person. You as a doctor, a woman, a wife, and a mother. What about your family’s and friends’ reactions? I’m not a law practitioner or a law student. I’m just an average reader who is very, very impatient after spending 28 bucks on this book 😂 I don’t mind the medical parts because the author is a doctor/specialist.
Also, Mr. Marwan deserves more than just credit—he should be the co-author 😂 Without his yapping, the book would be quite thin. I feel like the author should have used his comments to better edit and proofread her parts, but nope, she just slapped them in there like a last-minute group project patchwork and called it a day. By doing that, he unwittingly becomes like an annoying commentary track, like a mosquito buzzing in the background, narrating in the reader’s ear. I’m tired of reading her part about the law—again, not her expertise, so naturally, I don’t trust her opinions—and then having to read Mr. Marwan’s comments just to confirm what she said.
I do, however, feel bad for the author. I’m sure the trial and everything throughout the process was like crawling naked on shards of broken glass. At one point, I almost cried when reading this simple paragraph:
“I remember while the Judge and the prosecutor was bargaining on how much to award the Plaintiff, and we were watching in disbelief. The Judge stole a look at us and said these words, ‘This is not a punishment for the doctors, this is to compensate the plaintiff.’”
I don’t know why, but my heart broke when I read the line said by the judge. I could tell that the judge was trying to lift the doctors’ spirits after the judgment was read to them. But the author ruined the moment quickly with another random spill about types of charges/damages in law. There’s not enough softness to this book, if you know what I mean. As a doctor, yes, you need to toughen up. But as a writer? It’s a different story.
Anyway, this book is a good recommendation for law students and doctors. Especially doctors. Get and (don’t forget to) renew that damn insurance, y’hear me? 😂
June 14, 2025
I read this while working in the O&G department, and I could relate to almost every line the author wrote.
Medicine truly is an art. Every doctor has their own approach, shaped by knowledge and experience — as long as the goal is achieved: to treat the patient. The author explains this well, highlighting the idea of different “schools of thought” in clinical practice.
What we do in Hospital A might differ slightly from Hospital B. Only those within the medical fraternity really understand this nuance — I certainly didn’t, until I became a doctor myself.
This book helped me understand why my specialist constantly emphasizes proper documentation. It’s not just about covering yourself — it’s about good, responsible practice.
Some of the legal terminology was a bit heavy for me. I had to reread certain parts to grasp the meaning, but I appreciate how the author broke things down in a way that eventually made sense.
Overall, there’s always hikmah (wisdom) behind every situation — but we still need to do our part. This book is a timely reminder of the real-world challenges we may face in this profession.
It might just make you rethink your career… or it might prepare (and toughen) you for what’s to come.
Definitely worth reading — especially for house officers and young doctors navigating the early stages of their careers.
Medicine truly is an art. Every doctor has their own approach, shaped by knowledge and experience — as long as the goal is achieved: to treat the patient. The author explains this well, highlighting the idea of different “schools of thought” in clinical practice.
What we do in Hospital A might differ slightly from Hospital B. Only those within the medical fraternity really understand this nuance — I certainly didn’t, until I became a doctor myself.
This book helped me understand why my specialist constantly emphasizes proper documentation. It’s not just about covering yourself — it’s about good, responsible practice.
Some of the legal terminology was a bit heavy for me. I had to reread certain parts to grasp the meaning, but I appreciate how the author broke things down in a way that eventually made sense.
Overall, there’s always hikmah (wisdom) behind every situation — but we still need to do our part. This book is a timely reminder of the real-world challenges we may face in this profession.
It might just make you rethink your career… or it might prepare (and toughen) you for what’s to come.
Definitely worth reading — especially for house officers and young doctors navigating the early stages of their careers.
May 19, 2024
Thanks to Dr Ariza for writing this book. For a medical professional it's really beneficial to be brought through the whole process of litigation. Great insights on the whole legal process 👍. Really appreciate the additional sections by Lawyer Marwan.
The only reason I give 4 stars is because of the editing. I found some spelling mistakes and connected words etc that should have been corrected by the editor/publisher.
The only reason I give 4 stars is because of the editing. I found some spelling mistakes and connected words etc that should have been corrected by the editor/publisher.
December 2, 2025
Saya Tak Bersalah ; Aria Mohamed ; 151pages
Banyak ilmu yang aku dapat dari buku ni, dari bahagian perubatan, dari bahagian perundangan, kepercayaan, kukuh nya rasa tawakal.
Perkongsian yang sangat bermanfaat.
"Segalanya bergantung kepada perspektif bagaimana kita
melihat sesuatu. Apabila kita letakkan sesuatu pada tempat yang sebenar, kita menjadi lebih tenang dan boleh berfikir dengan baik akan bagaimana hendak menyelesaikannya"
-m/s 93
Terima kasih Dr. Ariza 🤍
Banyak ilmu yang aku dapat dari buku ni, dari bahagian perubatan, dari bahagian perundangan, kepercayaan, kukuh nya rasa tawakal.
Perkongsian yang sangat bermanfaat.
"Segalanya bergantung kepada perspektif bagaimana kita
melihat sesuatu. Apabila kita letakkan sesuatu pada tempat yang sebenar, kita menjadi lebih tenang dan boleh berfikir dengan baik akan bagaimana hendak menyelesaikannya"
-m/s 93
Terima kasih Dr. Ariza 🤍
June 24, 2023
Factual book explaining regarding legal process in court. An eye opening to junior practitioner like me.
I was once warned regarding possible lawsuit when dealing with birth complication during medical school and to be reading a real life experience on same exact situation gave me goosebumps. Would totally recommend my friends to read this book too
I was once warned regarding possible lawsuit when dealing with birth complication during medical school and to be reading a real life experience on same exact situation gave me goosebumps. Would totally recommend my friends to read this book too
June 20, 2024
I read this out of curiosity of how the medical field react to their medical litigation as I am from the legal side. So I thought, I want to explore the other side and I am not disappointed. I just hope Dr Ariza went to deeper dive about her experience and opinions.
Highly recommend if you want civil litigation proceedings explanation in layman’s terms. Easy to understand with accuracy.
Highly recommend if you want civil litigation proceedings explanation in layman’s terms. Easy to understand with accuracy.
September 2, 2025
Bila kita baca buku ini, kita akan terfikir bagaimana perasaan dan tindakan kita apabila diuji ujiam sama. Saya kesiankan nasib doktor dan pesakit itu. Apakah langkah betul patut dibuat saat itu? Keputusan hakim sangat adil dan semoga ibu bapa pesakit dimudahkan urusan menjaga anaknya yang sakit.
December 28, 2025
Good read untuk menambah pengetahuan dalam medico-legal; proses mahkamah, makna keadilan, ilmu serta hikmah. Kalau pembaca tekun, sehari je boleh habiskan buku ini.
Found type here-and-there dalam buku (saya sedikit alah dengan typo esp published material); maka reading pace saya jadi slow. Merata-rata buku ni berjalan; tapi dia kekal dalam bag sampailah semalam saya cuba habiskan juga~
Found type here-and-there dalam buku (saya sedikit alah dengan typo esp published material); maka reading pace saya jadi slow. Merata-rata buku ni berjalan; tapi dia kekal dalam bag sampailah semalam saya cuba habiskan juga~
August 28, 2023
Pengalaman seorang Doctor Yang disaman bekas pesakitnya. Banyak maklumat berguna dalam buku ini.
April 8, 2024
too good for 3 stars too mundane for 4 stars. as a lawyer student i was really intrigued when i saw this book 👀
July 22, 2023
Definitely eye-opening for a new healthcare practitioner. This book taught me the importance value of patient records because we never know when they will be needed. The author described the process following receiving the court summons very effectively, demonstrating how deeply this case had impacted her life.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews