Religious beliefs provide a positive influence in a doctor's medical ethics

Islam is a perfect religion and a complete code of life. It means Islam is complete,
comprehensive and includes everything that is needed for human survival guide. Islam as a guidance or
principle in Muslims life, so that they can live a good life, well-organized and well-being, achieving
happiness living in this world or in the next. As Muslims, we are compulsory to stick to Qur’an and
Sunnah in whatever things we are going to do. From the beginning, Islam has viewed commercial
activity not only as divine but also a necessary aspect of human life, a source of social gratification and
psychological pleasure. Work is considered necessary to establish an equilibrium between one’s
individuality and social life. The Qur’an instructs Muslims to persistently work whenever and wherever
possible: “Disperse through the land and seek of the bounty of God.” (Al-Jumu’ah 62:10), and “God
has permitted trade and forbidden usury.” (Al-Baqarah 2:275). We also have work ethics in Islam
and regarding to this topic, I am going to discuss on how religious beliefs could give a positive impact in
a doctor’s medical ethics.

Firstly, a Muslim doctor should stick to Islam in his or her job to give a positive impact on his or
her medical carrier. As example, during labour of a woman, the hospital should decide a woman doctor
to assist along the birth process, not a male doctor since in Islam, we have boundaries of aurah between
man and woman which they must obey. Allah says in Qur’an, “And they who guard their private
parts”(Al Mu’Minun 23:5), “Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed,
they will not be blamed”(Al Mu’Minun 23:6), and “But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are
the transgressors”(Al Mu’Minun 23:7).

Based on the verse in Qur’an, a man should not expose their private part to other woman except
for his own wife and vice versa. It means, woman also has to protect her private part from another man
except for his husband. So, a male doctor should be forbidden from assisting a woman during her labour
since it is contrary to Islam. If this rule had been applied to all hospitals in the world, I believe that it can
leave a good impression to all the married couples over the world thus leaving a good positive influence
in all doctors’ medical ethics.

In addition, Muslims doctor got to have a strong Islamic belief so that their relation with the
Creator, Allah strengthen thus increasing their faith and principle of Islam in applying a medical treatment
on a patient. As example, many either married or non-married couples who are not yet ready to have a
baby end up by aborting the small child who does not even having opportunity to see the world. In
context of Islam, non-married couples who are having sex called as zina and it is a damnable and dirty
act. Usually the couples decided to abort the child and here as a Muslim doctor, he or she should reject
their demand since aborting a baby is classified as killing in Islam. In principle, the Qur'an condemns the
killing of humans, except in the case of defense or as capital punishment. The Qur'an clearly disapproves
of killing other humans: “Take not life which Allah has made sacred” (Al-An’am 6:151), and “If a
man kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein (for ever)” (Al-Nisa’
4:93). In Surah (Al-Isra’ 17:31) warns believers in general: “Kill not your children for fear of want.
We shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you. Verily the killing of them is a great sin.”
There are those in Islam who oppose all abortions. A favored text to support this is: "Do not kill your
children for fear of poverty for it is We who shall provide sustenance for you as well as for
them." (Al-An' am, 6:151)

Based on the translation, Allah had said that the killing of children is a great sin and He also
prohibit parents to kill their children because afraid of poverty. Muslims doctor should not hesitate
holding tight to Qur’an and to oppose the request for abortion of child. By following the flow of Islam, a
positive influence could be created in a doctor’s medical ethics.

Furthermore, Muslims doctor must have a strong Islamic belief in order to provide a positive
influence in a doctor’s medical ethics. For instance, Muslims doctor should be straightforward and honest
towards the patient. Many people nowadays are working for money. They lied to their customer in order
to get more profits. Same as doctors, they lied to their patients in order to get extra money. For example,
a patient who catch a cold should be given paracetamol but instead, the irresponsible doctor give the
patient a false medicine so that the patient will come again and the doctor will get paid again or a doctor
sells the medical certificate to the people freely without any guilty. This action is classified as deception
and deceiving and it is forbidden in Islam.

As stated in Qur’an: “And cover not Truth with falsehood, nor conceal the Truth when you
know (what it is).”(Al-Baqarah 2:42), “If you are on a journey, and cannot find a scribe, a pledge
with possession (may serve the purpose). And if one of you deposits a thing on trust with another,
let the trustee (faithfully) discharge his trust, and let him fear his Lord. Conceal not evidence, for
whoever conceals it-his heart is tainted with sin. And Allah knows all that you do.”(Al-Baqarah
2:283), “When the Hypocrites come to you, they say, ‘We bear witness that you are indeed the
Messenger of Allah.’ Certainly, Allah knows that you are indeed His Messenger, and Allah bears
witness that the Hypocrites are indeed liars.”(Al-Munafiqun 63:1) and also there is Qur’an verse
which explains the effect and result of deceiving as stated in (Surah Al-Ghafir 40:28) “A Believer, a
man from among the people of Pharaoh, who had concealed his faith, said: “Will you slay a man
because he says, ‘My Lord is Allah’?-when he has indeed come to you with Clear (Signs) from your
Lord? And if he be a liar, on him is (the sin of) his lie: but, if he is telling the Truth, then will fall on
you something of the (calamity) of which he warns you: truly Allah guides not one who transgresses
and lies!” Based on the translation, as a good Muslim, we have to portray a good image of Islam by being
honest and straightforward to contribute a positive influence in a doctor’s medical ethics.

In the nutshell, Muslims doctor should apply all the morals of Islam in their life including work
and job in order to provide a positive influence in a doctor’s medical ethics.

Nur Aisyah Amirah Binti A Mazlam

102015214
Universitas Kristen Krida Wacana
Jl. Arjuna Utara, No.6, Jakarta, 11510

Reference

1. Work Ethichs In Islam. Http://Www.Islamicinsights.Com/News/Community-Affairs/Work-

Ethics-In-Islam.Html. Published On May 31, 2011. Accessed On Spetember 12, 2015.
2. Abortion in Islam. Elsayed Kandil, SALAM Magazine, Sydney, New South Wales
http://www.famsy.com/salam/.