Ethics & Professionalism in Medical Practice: A Course Aid (e-book)

Description

The Islamic Input in Medical Practice (IIMP) programme is a requirement for clinical medicine postgraduate students at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). The objective of this module is to introduce the fundamental concepts and principles of ethics and professionalism in medical practice to them.

The five (5) objectives of the Law, Maqasid al-Shariah, have been used to characterise Islam’s ethical doctrine. Religion (deen), life (nafs), intellect (‘aql), progeny (nasl), and wealth (mal) are its five goals. If a medical intervention is to be deemed ethical, it must accomplish one of the goals listed above. The five (5) principles of the Law, which are: purpose (qasd), certainty (yaqeen), damage (dharar), hardship (masyaqqah), and custom (‘urf), are the primary ethical principles of Islam applicable to medical treatment. The Islamic principles are more encompassing and deeper than traditional ethical concepts.

This module is organized in two sections. The first section elaborates on the fundamentals of ethics and professionalism and how the Shariah guides the decision making in medical practices. The second section discusses on case scenarios demonstrating how different circumstances require different rulings; and strategies for practitioners to respond to the issues put forth. The information provided is not meant to be taken as ruling in Islamic law (fatwa), rather a stepping stone for students to open up their minds in search of answers.

Upon completion of the lessons in this book, participants should be able to:

• Understand the fundamentals of ethics and professionalism in medical practice
• Identify and discuss the foundation of Islamic moral system as the guideline to ethics and professionalism.
• Demonstrate competency in providing medical advice and decision according to the principle of ethics and Shariah guidelines
• Discuss common issues brought to medical inquiries (e.g., medical negligence).