Islamic Center of Southern California

The International Islamic Code for Medical and Health Ethics

CHAPTER 4

Medical Behavior and Physician Rights and Duties

Physician Duties towards Society

Article Forty-Three:

A physician should be an active member of society, interacting with it, influencing it, and taking interest in its affairs. His actions should also aim at satisfying God, and he should never get involved in any practices or behaviors that are unethical or harmful to society.

Article Forty-Four:

A physician should help society in dealing with elements of health enhancement, disease prevention, and protection of the natural and social environment. He should live up to his responsibility of promoting health awareness and education. He should take advantage of patient visits to offer advice on the proper styles of healthy life and to discourage all health-damaging life styles.

Article Forty-Five:

A physician should use his skill, knowledge, and experience to improve the quality of health services offered to the community.

Article Forty-Six:

A physician should endeavor to conserve health resources and use them in the best possible way and make optimal utilization of these resources, setting an example by his own behavior.

Article Forty-Seven:

A physician, particularly when holding an official position, should take an active part in setting regulations, drawing health policies, and solving health problems, thus serving the interests of the community.

Article Forty-Eight:

In the case of communicable diseases, a physician should follow relevant regulations, report cases of the disease to the proper authorities, and take all necessary measures.

Supporting Islamic Legal Evidence:

I. In the Glorious Quran:

1. "That this nation of yours is one nation, and I am your Lord, so worship Me" (Al-Anbiyaa XXI: 90).

2. "Whoever contends with the Messenger after guidance has become evident to him and follows a course other than that of believers - We will let him follow what he has chosen and We will place him in Hell, which is a miserable fate" (Al-Nisaa IV: 115) .

II. In the Prophet's Tradition:

1. "A person who cares not for the affairs of Muslims is not one of them."

2. "Stick to the group; a wolf only devours stray sheep." Islamic Center of Southern California