Western and Islamic bioethics: How close is the gap?

• Published in: Avicenna journal of medicine Vol. 3; no. 1; pp. 8 - 14
• Main Authors: Chamsi-Pasha, Hassan, Albar, Mohammed Ali
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: A-12, Second Floor, Sector -2, NOIDA -201301, India Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd 01.01.2013; Medknow Publications Pvt Ltd; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd; Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd
• Subjects: Bioethics; ethics; Islam; Islamic law; Lebanon; principles; Review; REVIEW ARTICLE; western; Lebanon; Bioethics; principles; western; Islam; ethics
• ISSN: 2231-0770; 2249-4464
• DOI: 10.4103/2231-0770.112788

Abstract The relation between Islam and medicine has been described as intimate. Muslims are expected to be moderate and balanced in all matters, including health. Islamic law is based on a complete system of morality that can provide a moral context in medicine from a legal perspective. Islamic teaching is also very flexible and adaptable to many new and novel situations. Islamic Ethics also upholds "the four principles" of biomedical ethics proposed by Beauchamp and Childress. Several authors claim that the roots of these principles are clearly identifiable in Islamic teachings. However, there are some differences in the applications of these principles. This article shed light on the roots of the four principles in Islamic teachings and elaborates on the differences between Islamic and contemporary western bioethics.