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Health Policy, Ethics and Human Values - An Islamic Perspective

FOREWORD 
Dr. A.R. Al-Awadi

The world is witnessing remarkable scientific developments, particularly in the medical sciences. Positive as well as negative changes in medical behaviour have gone hand in hand with these developments.

On the positive side, medicine is now able to cure many diseases that used to be incurable and reach new frontiers health care, raising high hopes for alleviation of human pain. This positive turn of events, however, has been accompanied by calls advocating science for science's sake and insisting that man should be the sole source of legislation, on the grounds that he is in the best position to be aware of his own requirements. Such dubious calls constitute a deviation from man's natural course as mapped out by his Creator. What this deviation has led up to is the emergence of such strange demands as euthanasia, abortion, selling of human organs, etc. Advocates of these unusual lines of action misleadingly mask their evil aspect under a plea of mercy.

In an attempt to confront and contain this deviation, which has troubled the minds and hearts of ethicists and scholars of religion, a counter , movement is now calling for regulating medical innovations by law so that man's security and lofty position may not be jeopardized. Several conferences and seminars have been held to discuss these vital matters with a view to pointing out their ethical aspects and drawing up the necessary guidelines .

At the inception of the Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences (IOMS) one of its main purposes was to focus attention on the ethical aspects of medicine and the medical profession. From the beginning, the Organization has realized the gravity of the situation regarding this profession, which is a humane profession in the first place, requiring of its practitioners at all times the virtues of altruism and self -abnegation. This has been confirmed by Islam, the seal of heavenly messages to mankind, which permitted medicine and the medical profession and considered it "Fardu Kifayah" (a duty required to be fulfilled by some on behalf of all the others). Islam has set the right basis on which this profession should be practised at all times and in all places, pointing out areas of permission and prohibition. As for the problems raised by borderline cases, they should be resolved through "Ijtihad", that is, individual judgment based on the interpretation and application of the four foundations of Islamic jurisprudence: the Quran, Sunna, "Qiyas" (analogy) and "Ijmaa" (consensus). In Islam, "Ijtihad" is a duty enjoined upon Muslim scholars, so that their fellow Muslims may be enlightened as to the appropriate juridical rules for each and every matter pertaining to their daily lives. A distinctive feature of Islam is the abolition of clerical mediation between man and God. Man's  relationship to God is thus rendered free and direct, governed only by the revealed or canonical law of Islam. Therefore, the essence of Islam is that it is not only a faith in God but also an ethic for living; hence the necessity of Islamic teachings for regulating life in this world.

In fulfilment of its purposes, IOMS has issued and propagated the Islamic Code of Medical Ethics in order to define and lay down doctors' rights and duties towards their God, themselves, their families, their patients and their societies, at times of peace as well as of war. Furthermore, many juridico-medical seminars have been held to study medical innovations and find out the extent of permission and prohibition in each innovation. Great efforts have been made to bring together for these seminars the most erudite men of medical sciences and scholars of Islamic jurisprudence. The fruitful discussions have resulted in a number of valuable recommendations, which it is hoped will be the light that can guide doctors and patients alike.

In 1988, a meeting was held in Cairo between IOMS and the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences. Topics for discussion included ethics and human values, and health planning, from an Islamic perspective. A number of selected physicians with special interest in the ethical aspects of medicine, in addition to a notable group of Islamic scholars, had been invited to participate. The aims of the Seminar were:

1. to stimulate dialogue between Muslim and non-Muslim scholars in preparation for holding an international dialogue between scholars
   representing various cultures;

2. to point out the Islamic views concerning the issues put forward in theSeminar;

3. to consolidatebetween IOMS and the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences in view of their common purpose of putting the practice of medicine in the right moral framework, corresponding with human considerations and preserving human dignity.

The Seminar was a great success. It proved an exemplary forum for free and extensive discussion aimed at increasing the knowledge of all participants in an honest attempt to reach the truth. May God help us all to hold further seminars where we pursue our efforts for preserving man's humanity.