Islamic medical ethics: a primer (original) (raw)
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Medical ethics and Islam: principles and practice
A minimum level of cultural awareness is a necessary prerequisite for the delivery of care that is culturally sensitive. In this paper we simplify and highlight certain key teachings in Islamic medical ethics and explore their applications. We hope that the insights gained will aid clinicians to better understand their Muslim patients and deliver care that pays due respect to their beliefs.
Medical ethics and practices from Islamic perspective
International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 2020
Ethical physicians seem to have become an uncommon entity in modern day medical practice. Many patients and physicians feel that the profession of medicine is not living up to its own standards and expectations. One of the reasons is the lack of knowledge of the medial professionals about their religion and medical ethics. The ethics is not being right or wrong, instead it is the process of making better decisions or worse decisions compared to the worst decision. The introduction of newer technology in medical field such as organ transplantation, biotechnical parenting, blood transfusion, surrogacy, gender identification on fetal ultrasound, female genital mutilation has posed Muslim physicians and patients with some new questions of ethics. We look upon issues from the perspective of Muslim doctors and it is therefore important to discuss few of the practices according Quran, Sunnah. If the answers are not given in Quran and sunnah then one may turn to Ijma.
Medical ethics and Islam: principles and practiceResource allocation and rights
A minimum level of cultural awareness is a necessary prerequisite for the delivery of care that is culturally sensitive. In this paper we simplify and highlight certain key teachings in Islamic medical ethics and explore their applications. We hope that the insights gained will aid clinicians to better understand their Muslim patients and deliver care that pays due respect to their beliefs. (Arch Dis Child 2001;84:72-75)
What is it to practise good medical ethics? A Muslim's perspective
Journal of Medical Ethics, 2014
Good medical ethics should aim at ensuring that all human beings enjoy the highest attainable standard of health. With the development of medical technology and health services, it became necessary to expand the four basic principles of medical ethics and link them to human rights. Despite the claim of the universality of those ethical principles, their perception and application in healthcare services are inevitably influenced by the religious background of the societies in which those services are provided. This paper highlights the methodology and principles employed by Muslim jurists in deriving rulings in the field of medical ethics, and it explains how ethical principles are interpreted through the lens of Islamic theory. The author explains how, as a Muslim obstetrician-gynaecologist with a special interest in medical ethics, including international consideration of reproductive ethics issues, he attempts to 'practise good medical ethics' by applying internationally accepted ethical principles in various healthcare contexts, in ways that are consistent with Islamic principles, and he identifies the evidence supporting his approach. He argues that healthcare providers have a right to respect for their conscientious convictions regarding both undertaking and not undertaking the delivery of lawful procedures. However, he also argues that withholding evidence-based medical services based on the conscientious objection of the healthcare provider is unethical as patients have the right to be referred to services providing such treatment.
ISLAM AND FOUR PRINCIPLES OF BIOMEDICAL ETHICS: FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE
Russian Law Journal, 2023
Unfortunately, many clinicians still lack a sufficient understanding of the concepts behind the ethical structure of Islam implemented in everyday clinical circumstances, allowing them to provide care insensitive to the religion's culture. Several aspects of Islamic Biomedical ethics have been discussed. This study explores Islamic Bioethics and its tenets. The importance of appreciating and respecting Islamic Bioethics becomes clear. The nature of Islamic bioethics is also illuminated. Also, the theory of the Islamic bioethical framework for protecting human life, including how it is shaped by the Quran, the Sunnah, ijtihad, and the field as a whole, has been discussed. Islam proposes four bioethical principles: beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice, which are also part of the study. Finally, the relevance of an Islamic approach to bioethical issues is discussed. The Islamic faith places a premium on both preventative healthcare and the therapeutic management of illness. Treatment, genetic engineering, and abortion regulations are a few of the major life issues covered. Concerning the final stages of life, topics like suicide will be considered. Last but not least, is the Islamic perspective on exhumation and organ transplants. Keeping in mind the value of life in Islam, it is obligatory for the patient to seek proper and timely treatment. Also, it is healthcare providers' religious and ethical obligation to be very honest with their duties.
Islamic medical ethics in the 20th century
Journal of Medical Ethics, 1989
While the practice of Western medicine is known today to doctors ofall ethnic and religious groups, its standards are subject to the availability ofresources. The medical ethics guiding each doctor is influenced by hislher religious or cultural background or affiliation, and that is where diversity exists. Much has been written about3Jewish and Christian medical ethics. Islamic medical ethics has never been discussed as an independent field ofethics, although several selected topics, especially those concerning sexuality, birth control and abortions, have been more discussed than others. Islamic medical ethics in the 20th century will be characterised on the basis ofEgyptian fatawa (legal opinions) issued by famous Muslim scholars and several doctors. Some ofthe issues discussed by Islamic medical ethics are universal: abortions, organ transplants, artificial insemination, cosmetic surgery, doctor-patient relations, etc. Other issues are typically Islamic, such as impediments to fasting in Ramadan, diseases and physical conditions that cause infringement ofthe state ofpurity, medicines containing alcohol, etc. Muslims' attitudes to both types ofethical issues often prove that pragmatism prevails and the aim is to seek a compromise between Islamic heritage and the achievements ofmodern medicine, as long as basic Islamic dogma is not violated. Key index terms Shari'a: Islamic law based on the Qur'an and Hadith (Oral Tradition). fatwd: a legal opinion often expressed in a question/ answer format. mufti: a religious scholar who issues legal opinions. maslaha: the principle of public benefit, which can sometimes be used to promote new legal ideas for which the Shari'a holds no reference. The modern person rarely thinks ofmedicine as having Key words Islamic medical ethics; God), the Hadith (the Oral Tradition as transmitted by Muhammad's Companions), and the Shari'a (Islamic copyright.
ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE ON MEDICAL AND PARAMEDICAL CODES OF ETHICS
Ethical considerations and applications are very significant for conducting any professional duty, most especially medical and allied professions like Medical and Surgical care and treatments, Nursing care and Midwifery. This is because medical care is directly concerned with saving life, treatment of ailments and relief of sufferings of sick persons. Various professions codified their peculiar ethical codes of conduct for offering better services to their clients. Since ethical conducts are morally oriented and Islam instructs its followers to always be morally upright, it could rightly be deduced that there are some ethical guidelines within its teachings in the Qur'an and Sunnah (prophetic traditions) for offering better services to patients by Muslim professionals in medical and allied professions. These includes attitudes between the health worker and the patient, the heath worker and his colleagues, personal qualities, confidence, sincerity and dedication to duty, among others. This article is therefore an attempt to highlight on Islamic perspective of ethical conducts for Muslim health personnel, for emulation and execution.
Medical Ethics, Islamic Perspective
Journal of the Islamic Medical Association of North America, 2005
The technological advances of today's medical practice are something in which man can take pride, but they have brought us face to face with such questions as what is life and what is death and what is the purpose of life. Ethical and moral values have been challenged like never before. Since Islam is a comprehensive 'deen' offering us guidance in all aspects of life, we expect Islam to give us guidance for the present day dilemas faced by humanity because of these new medical/technological advances. As Muslims and physicians, it is our responsibility to search for answers to questions such as the permissibility of cloning. If it is permissible, is the clone a sibling or a child? what is the role of surrogate mothers? Are biotechnical parenting methods making use of sperm and ova banks permissible? This calls for our deliberate indulgence in the time-honored rules of sharI'a (Islamic law) to arrive at certain workable guiding principles. There have been previous attempts at discussions of these and other subjects that resulted in solving some of these problems, but many remain unsolved and need further discussion. I suggest annual programs for holding ethics conferences attended by prominent sharI'a and medical scholars to discuss these subjects. The outcomes of these conferences can be published and disseminated. I suggest taking advantage of the Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OlC) for helping in this direction. I also recommend the introduction of the subject of ethics in all medical schools in Muslim countries. Modern communication technology can be utilised effectively and inexpensively. I urge the Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA) and the Federation of Islamic Medical Associations (FIMA) to look into these suggestions urgently.
2018
End-of-life care and protection of the patient in the near-death moments are part of a patient’s rights and the duties of the medical staff. As the beginning and end of human life are most sensitive moments, there are various religious rules associated with them. The ethical issues regarding practicing medical procedures on nearly dead patients are of particular complexity and are consistent with invaluable and profoundly religious recommendations. In addition, the purpose of medical training is to provide physicians with the knowledge and skills necessary to practice appropriately and within legal and ethical frameworks. Therefore, respecting patients’ cultural and religious beliefs is an ethically accepted principle in the health systems of different countries and is the basis of respect for human dignity. The present study used a qualitative content analysis to explain how to practice medical procedures on a dying or nearly dead patient in accordance with Islamic jurisprudential ...