Legal experts in Dominican Republic debate professional and corporate liability

Legal and medical experts in the Dominican Republic are raising concerns regarding the implications of criminal liability for professionals and corporations. Forensic psychiatrist Katty Gómez has warned against the criminalization of complex medical decisions, particularly in mental health. She argues that without specialized scientific evaluations and national protocols, clinicians may face legal repercussions for unpredictable clinical outcomes, potentially leading to defensive medicine where doctors avoid high-risk patients or order unnecessary tests to mitigate legal threats.

Separately, legal consultant Babaji Cruz Peñaló has addressed the Senate regarding proposed extensions to the implementation of corporate criminal liability under the Dominican Penal Code (Law 74-25). Cruz Peñaló cautioned that extending the deadline for articles 8 through 11 without resolving legislative ambiguities could result in further delays. He proposed establishing a closed list of criminal offenses for which companies can be held liable and urged for better harmonization between the Penal Code and existing regulations regarding public contracting, money laundering, and environmental crimes.