Islamic medical ethics is based on the Quran and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. It provides guidance on issues related to health, medical treatment, life, death and the afterlife. Permissible treatments include contraception and organ donation while forbidden acts include suicide, euthanasia, abortion after 120 days and consumption of pork or alcohol. Islamic principles emphasize necessity, harm reduction and public interest over individual interests.

1. Islamic
Medical Ethics
1

2. 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
2

3. Spiritual
Religion Care
Muslim
Patient
Values Beliefs
3

4. 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
4

5. Values: Regulates:
Honor parents Marriage
Be kind to neighbors Divorce
Protect the weak Inheritance
Give to the poor Business
The Qur’an
Forbids: Condemns:
Gambling Murder
Pork Stealing
Alcohol Lying
Prostitution Adultery
5

6. 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
Prophets of God
Beliefs From Adam to Mohammed
Day of Judgment
Rise of humanity
Books of God
Divine Decree Of Abraham, David,
Fate set in advance Moses, Jesus, Mohammed
6

7. Health, Religion & Ethics
 Contraception  Brain Death
 Fertility  Organ Donation
 Cloning  Euthanasia
 Medications  Death
 Resuscitation  Life after Death
7

8. 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
Mahd’ur Punishment No Reward
(Prohibited) 8

9. Forbidde
Enforcing of not
n
Doing
Maslow
Discourage
d
Urging of not Doing
Way
Permitted
Choice of Doing
Recommended
Urging of Doing
Obligatory
Enforcing of Doing
9

10. 5 Pillars
5 Pillars
Obligatory
1-9
1-9
Testimony
Testimony
Pilgrimage
Pilgrimage of Faith
Hajj of Faith
Hajj Shahadah
Shahadah
External
Charity Beliefs Prayer
Charity (Ibada) Prayer
Zakat
Zakat Salat
Salat
Fasting
Fasting
Sawm
Sawm
© Copyright 1995 Prentice Hall 10

11. 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.
11

12. 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 mother’s health,
physically or mentally.
12

13. 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 husband’s
sperm and the wife’s ovaries and uterus.
 Death of one of the spouse terminates the marriage
contract on earth, thus frozen sperm from husband
can not be used.
13

14. Discourage
 Forced feeding the sick.
 Smoking
 Divorce
 Elective abortion before age 120 days
(some sects before 40 days).
14

15. Forbidden
 Surgical contraception: (Sterilization: Vasectomy &
tubal ligation). Permitted for mentally sick or when
another pregnancy risks mother’s 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).
15

16. 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

17. 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 physician’s
assisted suicide.
 Murder. "take not life which Allah has made sacred" Qur’an 6:151.17

18. 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).
18

19. Female Modesty
 Dress: Provide a long-sleeved gown or allow to wear
her own cloths.
 Examination: exposure of the patient’s 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

20. 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.
20

21. 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 God’s
will. 21

22. Death
 Death definition: when spirit leave’s the body.
 Death is Inevitable: “ Every soul shall have a taste of death: In the end
to Us shall you be brought back." Qur’an 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

23. 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 God’s will and purpose regarding death.
23

24. 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

25. 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.
25

26. Family Duties
After Death
 Payment of Funeral expenses.
 Payment of his/her debts.
 Execution of his/her will.
 Distribution of the remaining estate.
26

27. Spiritual History
 Ask: About life & death meaning.
 Observe: Dressing, praying, reading
 Listen: Reactions, answers, remarks
27

28. 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.
28

29. Final Words
 Listen to patient and family.
 Demonstrate sensitivity.
 Respect Patient’s Values and Beliefs.
 Remain Flexible.
 Avoid Speculation.
 Respond to Who, What, Where, When?
 Provide Reassurance.
29

30. 30