Islamic

Medical Ethics

Kassim Baddarni
Al-Taj Organization
Arraba, Galilee, Israel
altaj@013.net

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 Islam is the Youngest
2nd Largest Religion
Every 5th person worldwide

Judaism Hinduism Buddhism Christianity Islam

2000 BC 1000 BC 563 BC 33 AD 610 AD 2008

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 Spiritual
Religion Care

Muslim
Patient

Values Beliefs
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 Islamic Law and Rules
The Holy Book Quran
(Hadith), words or
actions of the prophet
Sunnah

(Ijma) of the Clerics Consensus

(Ijtihad) personal study Wisdom

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Values: Regulates:
Honor parents Marriage
Be kind to neighbors Divorce
Protect the weak Inheritance
Give to the poor Business

The Quran
Forbids: Condemns:
Gambling Murder
Pork Stealing
Alcohol Lying
Prostitution Adultery
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 Oneness of God
All can, no body or sex

Life after Death Angels of God

Sorting to Hill or Paradise From light to serve God

Internal
Beliefs Prophets of God
Day of Judgment From Adam to Mohammed (25)
Rise of humanity

Books of God
Divine Decree Of Abraham, David,
Fate set in advance Moses, Jesus, Mohammed
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 Health, Religion & Ethics

Contraception Brain Death

Fertility Organ Donation

Cloning Euthanasia

Medications Death

Resuscitation Life after Death

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 The Sharia Law System
Category Arabic Do it Not do it
Obligatory Fard
Wajeb Reward Punishment
(Prescribed)
Recommended Mustahab
Mandub Reward No Punishment
(Desirable)
Permitted Mubah
Halal No Reward No Punishment
(Allowed)
Discouraged Makruh
Manboth No Punishment Reward
(Disliked)
Forbidden Haraam
Mahdur Punishment No Reward
(Prohibited) 8
 Forbidden
Enforcing of not Doing
Maslow
Discourage
d
Urging of not Doing
Way
Permitted
Choice of Doing

Recommended
Urging of Doing

Obligatory
Enforcing of Doing
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Obligatory

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 Recommended

Blood and organ donation. (giving and receiving).

Circumcision of male infants (7th day). Controversy
of female circumcision.
Breast feeding (two years).
Human skin bank: lawful for medical grafting and
unlawful for cosmetics and misleading others.

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 Permitted
Autopsy: if for medically or by law indicated.
Reconstructive Surgery (post mastectomy).
Do Not Resuscitate order: when the treatment
becomes futile.
Withdrawal or withheld therapy is permitted in
brain death.
Genetic Engineering: to alter or cure diseased genes.
Abortion: pregnancy that risk the mothers health,
physically or mentally.
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 Permitted
Contraception: Islam approves all methods of
contraception between husband and wife which are
not harmful, are reversible and are not causing
abortion.
Artificial insemination: when using the husbands
sperm and the wifes ovaries and uterus.
Death of one of the spouse terminates the marriage
contract on earth, thus frozen sperm from husband
can not be used.
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 Discourage

Forced feeding the sick.

Smoking
Divorce
Elective abortion before age 120 days
(some sects before 40 days).

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 Forbidden
Surgical contraception: (Sterilization: Vasectomy &
tubal ligation). Permitted for mentally sick or when
another pregnancy risks mothers life.
Sperm or ova donation.
Fetal Sex Determination.
Elective abortion in a healthy mother 120 days after
fertilization.
Human milk bank.
Human cloning (permitted for tissues and organs).
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 Forbidden
Surrogacy Uterus: Surrogacy involving a third person
is not permissible. (even if the woman involved is
another wife of the husband).
Sex: Oral sex, homosexual and gay/lesbian relation,
prostitution and sex outside marriage.
Cosmetic surgery: Changing the creation of Allah.
Food: not Halal meat, of pork or dead animal/bird.
Drink: alcohol.
Others: interest, theft, gambling and drugs. 16
 Forbidden
Active Euthanasia: voluntary, non-voluntary and
Involuntary are not permissible under any
circumstances.
Passive euthanasia: treatment is not obligatory when
there is no hope of survival (brain death). Patient
should be provided with food, drink, nursing, and
relief from pain until death.
Suicide: include assisted suicide and physicians
assisted suicide.
Murder. "take not life which Allah has made sacred" Quran 6:151.17
 Principles of Medical Ethics

Necessity overrides prohibition (insulin from

pork, medications with alcohol).
Remove harm at every cost if possible (quit
smoking, risk factors, disease therapy).
Accept the lesser of two harms if both cannot be
avoided (abortion in risk to the pregnant woman).
Public interest overrides individual interest
(blood and organ donation).
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 Female Modesty
Dress: Provide a long-sleeved gown or allow to wear
her own cloths.
Examination: exposure of the patients body parts
should be limited to the minimum necessary.
Sex: sensitivity when asking a single, widow or a
divorced about sexual habits.
Respect privacy and do not touch while talking.
Should not be placed in mixed rooms.
Avoid eye contact and shaking hands to prevent
unnecessary embarrassment. 19
 Cancer
Result of Divine Will or a spiritual trial (not a
product of a carcinogen or risk behavior).
Cancer is often referred to as that disease followed
by God keep it away.
Cancer kept confidential, fear that it may affect their
daughters marriage.
Pain: analgesic to prevent suffering include morphine
is allowed and recommended. Suffering delete sins.
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 Palliative Care
When death is inevitable, Islam directs that the
patient be allowed to die without heroic measures.
Muslims disapprove of any medical care that may
hasten the death of a patient.
Muslims prefer to die at home if possible with the
family providing comprehensive physical and
spiritual support.
Death is not prepared for with prior funeral
arrangements and viewed as an interference in Gods
will. 21
 Death
Death definition: when spirit leaves the body.
Death is Inevitable: Every soul shall have a taste of death: In the end
to Us shall you be brought back." Quran 29:57

The dying person: should sit up or lie with their face

towards Mecca. Ideally one should die with the
Declaration of Faith on the lips (Shahada).
When death occur: eyes should be closed; all
connected tubes removed; all limbs flexed and the
body straightened. 22
 After Death
Washing and burying the body as soon as possible
(same day). On the right side, facing Mecca.
Respect for the body and prayers over the dead.
Recitation of the whole Quran if possible.
Mourning should not be excessive, as this would
disturb the dead as well as show lack of acceptance
of Gods will and purpose regarding death.
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 Funeral &
Mourning Period
Funeral is simple and every human is equal.
Deceased buried in a white shroud (men 3 pieces,
women 5 pieces) without a coffin. Islam forbids
cremation.
Women are not allowed to attend the funeral, non-
Muslim men may attend.
Mourning period 3 days. Wife mourn her husband 4
months and 10 days. She is not to remarry, leave her
home, or wear decorative clothing. Pregnant widow
may remarry 42 days after childbirth. 24
 Life After Death
Angels visit the dead in grave during the first night.
Believers are comfortable waiting till judgment day.
Judgement Day: resurrection of bodies. The good
cross to Paradise, The bad fall off into Hell.
Child is regarded sinless until the age of maturity.
The soul /spirit of the child is automatically
transferred to paradise.

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 Family Duties
After Death
Payment of Funeral expenses.
Payment of his/her debts.
Execution of his/her will.
Distribution of the remaining estate.

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 Spiritual History

Ask: About life & death meaning.

Observe: Dressing, praying, reading
Listen: Reactions, answers, remarks

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 Barriers of Spiritual
History and Therapy
Lack of time.
Lack of training.
Discomfort with the subject.
Fear of activity outside area of expertise.
Lack of interest or awareness.

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 Final Words
Listen to patient and family.
Demonstrate sensitivity.
Respect Patients Values and Beliefs.
Remain Flexible.
Avoid Speculation.
Respond to Who, What, Where, When?
Provide Reassurance.
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 Al-Taj for Health and Heritage
Mission: health promotion by raising
awareness for prevention, early
detection and improve management
and outcome of cancer and diabetes in
the Arab sector, Israel

Tel/Fax +972-4-6747737 altaj@013.net

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 Some
Projects
Palliative Care
Manual

Diabetes Mellitus
the Era Plague

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 Some
Projects
Breast Cancer
lecture

Palliative Care
conference

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