the oath of muslim physicians

THE OATH OF MUSLIM PHYSICIANS

CASE 2.2GROUP 3 – DR.

AMERAHFATIMA M. AL

AWADH

Introduction

The fundamental basis of Islamic bioethics is that all rulings and actions must fall into accordance with Islamic law (shari’a) and Islamic ethics.

Objectives

• What is the Hippocratic oath?

• What is the Islamic oath?• Discuss the Islamic oath. • Compare between

Hippocratic & Islamic oaths.• Exemplify “do good, cause

no harm”• Between Doing Good and

Causing Harm.• Summary

Hippocratic oath

• One of the oldest binding documents in history, the Oath written by Hippocrates is still held sacred by physicians.

• There are many versions of the Hippocratic Oath.

• Written by the World Medical Association in the Declaration of Geneva (1948).

Islamic oath

• Composite from the historical and contemporary writings of physicians of Islamic World.

• Written by Islamic Medical Association of north America 1977.

Discuss the Islamic Oath

• The passage that attract your attention

“Give us the strength to be truthful, …” Admitting that we need Allah's help to do good.

“… that ours is a profession sacred …” Doctors must think like this with every patient they meet.

“Make us worthy of this favoured station …” Thanking Allah and praying to deserve his gift.

“serving mankind, poor or rich, literate …” Expressing that all people are the same.

Discuss the Islamic Oath

• The passage that should be omitted

The group agreed that no passage should be omitted from the oath. We think it’s thoughtful to start with the names and attributes of Allah, Than asking for assistance from Allah, Finally testifying with verse 32 of surat Al-Maida, which some thought it could be omitted.

Hippocratic Vs. Islamic

3 Differences Between Improving and deteriorating

Hippocratic Vs. Islamic

Hippocratic

Most sentences

start with “I will”.

Islamic

Most sentences

start with “ Give us,

Make us”

What do you think about this difference? Is it improvement or deterioration?

Hippocratic Vs. Islamic

Hippocratic

Appreciating

teachers and

teaching

Islamic

Praising Allah only

What do you think about this difference? Is it improvement or deterioration?

Hippocratic Vs. Islamic

Hippocratic

Involves actions like “prescribe, give, cut, go, honor, love,

share, teach, divulge”

Islamic

Involves characteristics like “truthful,

honest, modest, merciful,

objective, honor, dignity, piety”

What do you think about this difference? Is it improvement or deterioration?

Do No HarmBy Mark Jerome Walters

Exemplifying Case 2.1

Intervention

Do Good Cause Harm

The internThe

physiotherapist

Exemplifying Case 4.2 “Child Abuse”

• Is the physician allowed to do good, even if this would also cause harm?

I think it is the physician’s responsibility to report the child abuse.

As I read in The Cambridge Textbook of Bioethics section III, page 137, The question remains whether the mandated reporter should follow the law and report suspected abuse when doing so does not appear to be in the child’s interest.

Between Doing Good & Not Causing Harm

• Is the physician allowed to initiate treatment if he knew it will not cause harm but he does not know if it would have any effect?

I think it is allowed with the patient’s permission. It would be like clinical trial which have certain limits.

Summary To sum up, the

strong points of Islamic oath are two. First, consider that Allah is watching every move, this will make us behave better. Second, devoting our lives in serving mankind.

What Do You Think