The Ethics of the Muslim Physician and the Legacy of Muhammad (pbuh)

Authors

  • Thalia A. Arawi American University of Beirut

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5915/43-1-7124

Keywords:

Medical ethics, Islam, Sunnah, physician-patient relationship

Abstract

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5915/43-1-7124

Contemporary physicians have become entrepreneurs, and the patient is often seen as a client and medicine a commodity. As such, many patients as well as members of the healthcare team feel that medicine is not living up to its own standards. It is the contention of the author that the Muslim physician, guided by the two primary sources of Islamic Law, the Qur’an and the Sunna, will possess the necessary character traits of a good physician. In this article I argue that the Muslim physician who abides by the Sunna will develop the character traits that will help him/her develop the virtues necessary for making a good physician that will do the right thing even when no one is looking.

Author Biography

Thalia A. Arawi, American University of Beirut

Thalia Arawi is the Clinical Bioethicist and the Founding Director of the Salim El-Hoss Bioethics & Professionalism Program at the American University Beirut and Medical Center. She is also member of the American Society of Bioethics, the Canadian Society of Bioethics, the Provincial Health Ethics Network and the International Association of Bioethics. Her research interest is mainly in the areas of non-violence, animal rights, and biomedical ethics.

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Published

2011-04-25

Issue

Vol. 43 No. 1 (2011)

Section

Islamic Perspectives

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