Islam and the four principles of medical ethics

Abstract

The principles underpinning Islam's ethical framework applied to routine clinical scenarios remain insufficiently understood by many clinicians, thereby unfortunately permitting the delivery of culturally insensitive healthcare.This paper summarises the foundations of the Islamic ethical theory, elucidating the principles and methodology employed by the Muslim jurist in deriving rulings in the field of medical ethics. The four-principles approach, as espoused by Beauchamp and Childress, is also interpreted through the prism of Islamic ethical theory. Each of the four principles (beneficence, nonmaleficence,justice and autonomy) is investigated in turn, looking in particular at the extent to which each is rooted in the Islamic paradigm. This will provide an important insight into Islamic medical ethics, enabling the clinician to have a better informed discussion with the Muslim patient. It will also allow for a higher degree of concordance in consultations and consequently optimise culturally sensitive healthcare delivery.

Justification for requiring disclosure of diagnoses and prognoses to dying patients in saudi medical settings: a Maqasid Al-Shariah-based Islamic bioethics approach

“…The second principle is Yaqin (certainty), which according to Mustafa [ 6 ] is consistent with what we refer to today as “evidence-based medicine”: It acknowledges that most medical decisions are relative and based on probability. Although yaqın̄ (certainty) is theoretically the ideal, sound medical judgement as a minimum should be based on ghalabat alzạnn (predominant conjecture), which is superior to zạnn (mild inclination) or shakk (doubt).…”

Justification for requiring disclosure of diagnoses and prognoses to dying patients in saudi medical settings: a Maqasid Al-Shariah-based Islamic bioethics approach

“…The second principle is Yaqin (certainty), which according to Mustafa [ 6 ] is consistent with what we refer to today as “evidence-based medicine”: It acknowledges that most medical decisions are relative and based on probability. Although yaqın̄ (certainty) is theoretically the ideal, sound medical judgement as a minimum should be based on ghalabat alzạnn (predominant conjecture), which is superior to zạnn (mild inclination) or shakk (doubt).…”

Ethics of Digital Health in Islamic Perspective

“…According to another Islamic belief, "no damage shall be inflicted or reciprocated." This principle is one of the most significant traditions in Islamic social ethics that is directly attributed to the Prophet and is accepted by scholars from every branch of Islamic jurisprudence [29]. AI should be created to be harmless; it should, first and foremost, do no harm.…”

User perceptions and experiences of an AI-driven conversational agent for mental health support

“…However, healthcare is a field deeply rooted in ethical principles like beneficence, non-maleficence, and patient autonomy ( 33 ). Replacing human judgment with AI introduces various challenges ( 34 ).…”

Justification for requiring disclosure of diagnoses and prognoses to dying patients in saudi medical settings: a Maqasid Al-Shariah-based Islamic bioethics approach

“…The second principle is Yaqin (certainty), which according to Mustafa [ 6 ] is consistent with what we refer to today as “evidence-based medicine”: It acknowledges that most medical decisions are relative and based on probability. Although yaqın̄ (certainty) is theoretically the ideal, sound medical judgement as a minimum should be based on ghalabat alzạnn (predominant conjecture), which is superior to zạnn (mild inclination) or shakk (doubt).…”

Ethics of Digital Health in Islamic Perspective

“…According to another Islamic belief, "no damage shall be inflicted or reciprocated." This principle is one of the most significant traditions in Islamic social ethics that is directly attributed to the Prophet and is accepted by scholars from every branch of Islamic jurisprudence [29]. AI should be created to be harmless; it should, first and foremost, do no harm.…”

User perceptions and experiences of an AI-driven conversational agent for mental health support

“…However, healthcare is a field deeply rooted in ethical principles like beneficence, non-maleficence, and patient autonomy ( 33 ). Replacing human judgment with AI introduces various challenges ( 34 ).…”

Justification for requiring disclosure of diagnoses and prognoses to dying patients in saudi medical settings: a Maqasid Al-Shariah-based Islamic bioethics approach

“…The second principle is Yaqin (certainty), which according to Mustafa [ 6 ] is consistent with what we refer to today as “evidence-based medicine”: It acknowledges that most medical decisions are relative and based on probability. Although yaqın̄ (certainty) is theoretically the ideal, sound medical judgement as a minimum should be based on ghalabat alzạnn (predominant conjecture), which is superior to zạnn (mild inclination) or shakk (doubt).…”

Ethics of Digital Health in Islamic Perspective

“…According to another Islamic belief, "no damage shall be inflicted or reciprocated." This principle is one of the most significant traditions in Islamic social ethics that is directly attributed to the Prophet and is accepted by scholars from every branch of Islamic jurisprudence [29]. AI should be created to be harmless; it should, first and foremost, do no harm.…”

User perceptions and experiences of an AI-driven conversational agent for mental health support

“…However, healthcare is a field deeply rooted in ethical principles like beneficence, non-maleficence, and patient autonomy ( 33 ). Replacing human judgment with AI introduces various challenges ( 34 ).…”