<Home> <Ethics> <Islamic Code of Medical Ethics> <Doctor and Society>

Doctor & Society

* The Doctor is in every sense a member of Society, fully acting, interacting and caring for it. The prophet says... Religion is to give honest advice for God and His apostle and to Muslim leaders and public.

* The Doctor's mission exceeds the treatment of disease to taking all measures to prevent its occurrence, in compliance with the Qoranic command: "Let not your own hands push you into destruction". The hint to a "preventive" policy is evident in the saying of the Prophet: "When pestilence is rampant in a locality do not go inside it. .but if you are already inside then do not come out of it".

* The Medical Profession shall take it as duty to combat such health-destructive habits as smoking, uncleanliness etc. Apart from mass education and advertence, the Medical Profession should unrelentlessly pressurize the judiciary to issue necessary legislation.

The combat and prevention of environmental pollution falls under this category.

* The natural prophylaxis against venereal diseases and the other complications ensuing upon sexual license, lies in revival of the human values of chastity, purity, self-restraint and refraining from advertently or inadvertently inflicting harm on self or others. To preach these religious values is 'Preventive Medicine' and therefore lies within the jurisdiction and obligation of the medical profession.

In certain developed countries gonorrhoea and syphylis havereached epidemic proportions inducing health authorities to request the declaration of a national emergency situation. Yet all medical preaching regrettably goes on the tone of: it is' alright, it is no shame, it is normal, but please seek medical advice promptly if you suspect catching the disease. No pamphlet or other message over the media has dared to touch on chastity even as one of several prophylactic alternatives.

In contrast with anti-pollution, anti-smoking, anti-saccharine anti- fat and several other anti’s sexual license has been signaled out as the area where' a doctor should not moralize but just treat".

* The Muslim Medical Profession should be conversant with Islam's teachings and abiding by them. It should also thoroughly study at first hand the data, facts, figures and projections of various parameters actually existent in Muslim societies. Upon this should be decided what to take and what to reject from the experiences and conclusions of other societies. Reconciliation with a policy of uncritical copying of alien experience should be stopped.

* Society owes the Doctor his right to be trusted, to live comfortably, to earn an adequate income and to keep his dignity.

A Doctor should prove worthy of these rights or else he is vulnerable to punition.

"In all communities there are elements who through thanklessness, ignorance or a flare for sensationalism, attempt to tarnish the public portrait of the Medical Profession. The brunt of such cruelty falls mainly on the poor patient who has no choice but to surrender himself to the Doctor for thrapy or surgery. If is mental torture then if a bad portrait of the Doctor was incalculated on his mind. The press in particular should consider these implications and avoid unscrutinized, wrong or slanted information. Health authorities should not refrain from taking legal action against these distorted publications, not particularly in short term defence of the Doctor but mainly for the long term security of the nation. if a Doctor behaved in an unbecoming or unlawful way, the Profession should be even harsher on him in order to preseve the good repute of medical practice".