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ISLAMIC CODE OF ETHICS:

MEDICAL PRACTICE

FARHAT MOAZAM, M.D., PHD

Center of Biomedical Ethics and Culture, SIUT,Karachi, Pakistan

Institute of Practical Ethics, University of Virginia, USA

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DISCUSSION POINTS

Modern secular ethics versus Islamic religious-ethical concepts

The contemporary English term ethics versusthe Arabic (Urdu) word Adab/Akhlaq

Rich Islamic heritage of Virtue Ethics (al-Fadael)and stress on the moral physician: the sources

A brief account, and some examples, of virtuesthat must be included in the body of the IslamicCode of Medical Ethics of IOMS

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ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS ETHICS:BASIC CONCEPTS

Historically, Muslim moral and ethical thought

rooted in Revelation and human reason (al-aql

wa l-shari)

Recognizes rights of individuals, but emphasizeshuman obligations to establish social justice

Those more privileged in life have greater

responsibilities towards the less fortunate

Asks the questionis the acting

agent/physician a moral person? (hal al-Tabib

shakhsun salihun, shakhs du akhlaq?)

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ETHICS vs.AKHLAQ/ADAB

Ethics for physicians is translated in Arabic (and Urdu)asAkhlaq al-Tabib

The historical and social construct of how Muslimscomprehend akhlaqis much broader than thecontemporary use of term ethics

An understanding of akhlaqincorporates both thevirtuous agentand his/her ethical act

The IOMS Islamic Code of Medical Ethics for physiciansmust include, in addition to what constitutes ethicalactions, a list of virtues and moral traits that physiciansmust adopt and cultivateBy highlighting the need for virtuous physicians andresearchers as well as ethical acts, IOMS can make animportant contribution to contemporary bioethicaldiscourse which peripheralizes the former

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VIRTUES FOR PHYSICIANS:

MUSLIM SOURCES (CONT.)

From Muslim ulemaand fuqaha:The usul al-akhlaqofImam Abu Hamid al-Ghazalihikma(wisdom), shujaa(courage), iffa(temperance), and adl(justice)

From Muslim physicians:Kitab al-Tibb al-Ruhaniof Abu

Bakr al Razithe exemplary physician must cultivategood moral character, good health, and be cultured inmanners. Must listen more, talk less.

Adab al-Tabibby Al-Ruhawitrain by employing goodmorals and actions with sympathy, mercy, gentleness,

chastity, courage, generosity, justice. Do not aim for anexcess of worldly riches. The physician with exemplaryadabis one who truly fears God.

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WHY STRESS MORAL CHARACTER

OF PHYSICIAN?

Physicians and patients are spiritually equal inthe eyes of Allah as His creatures

Relationship between physicians and patients by

nature is an unequal one; the patient is notautonomous in illness. Physicians possessknowledge and skills which patients do not, butneed for recovery and survival

Rules and guidelines alone are insufficientsafeguards against abuse of patients in thehands of unethical practitioners. E.g. theinformed consent for therapy or research

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FINAL WORDS

The believers whose faith is most perfect

are those who have the best character.

(Akmalu al-momineen imanan ahsanuhum

khuluqan)

Hadith of the Prophet (SAW)

(from Imam Ibn Hanbal)