Islamic Center of Southern California

The International Islamic Code for Medical and Health Ethics

CHAPTER 10

Medical Behavior and Physician Rights and Duties

Physician Duties Towards His Profession

Article 101:

A physician should maintain the dignity and reputation of the medical profession, observe the standards of medical practice, and strive to upgrade the cognitive and scientific aspects of his profession through research, studies, articles, and continuing education and training.

Article 102:

In dealing with a patient, a physician should avoid everything that might undermine his integrity and honesty, or discredit the medical profession. He should strive not to lose the patient's confidence through resorting to deception or fraud, having an inappropriate affair with the patient or one of his/her family members, or making material gain through irregular methods. He should also refrain from seeking fame at the expense of professional ethics and principles.

Article 103:

A physician should give testimony to concerned authorities whenever he is required to do so. Moreover, he should not fail to write honest and precise medical reports according to existing regulation.

Article 104:

A physician should refer a patient to a practitioner of complementary (folk, traditional, alternative) medicine only when the latter is licensed to practice such medicine by the proper health authority.

Supporting Islamic Legal Evidence:

I. In the Glorious Quran:

1. "Recite in the name of your Lord, Who created. He created man from clots of blood. Recite, and your Lord is Most Generous, Who has taught by means of the pen. He taught Man what he had not known" (Al-'Alaq XCVI: 1 - 5).

2. "God will raise in position those of you who believe and are given knowledge" (Al-Mujaadilah LVIII: 11).

3. "We raise whomever we will several degrees, and there is above everyone with knowledge one who is more knowing" (Yusuf XII: 76).

4. "God commands you to deliver trusts where they are due" (Al-Nisaa IV: 58).

5. "Do not withhold a testimony" (Al-Baqarah II: 283).

II. In the Prophet's Tradition:

1. In an attributed tradition quoting Anas, "The pursuit of knowledge is an obligation for every Muslim." (Cited by Al-Baihaqi, Al-Tabaraani, and Ibn 'Odai.)

2. "People are as equal as a comb's teeth; none have distinction over another except in their fear of God." (Cited by Al-Dailami.)

Article 105:

A physician should serve as an example in maintaining his health and in all his actions. He should take all necessary precautions to protect himself from all potential hazards while practicing his profession.

Article 106:

A physician should never

a. use intermediaries or illegitimate means, whether paid for or not, to attract patients;

b. allow his name to be used for the promotion of medicines, drugs, or any other type of treatment, or for commercial purposes in any form;

c. demand any kind of fee or compensation in return for undertaking to prescribe particular medicines or equipment to patients or for referring them to a health establishment, therapy clinic, nursing home, pharmacy, or any specific place of medical tests and examination or of trading in medical aids and equipment, or act in any way as an agent for another physician or health institution;

d. offer medical consultations for companies that offer such consultation through communication media; and

e. sell any medications, prescriptions, or medical equipment or aids in his clinic, while practicing his job, for commercial purposes.

Article 107:

A physician may engage or participate in telemedicine in as much as permitted by laws and regulations. Islamic Center of Southern California