Islamic Center of Southern California

International Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research Involving Human Subjects

(An Islamic Perspective)

Introduction to the Research Paper Section

Introduction to the Research Paper Section

When the Islamic Organization of Medical Sciences contemplated issuing an Islamic code of medical and health ethics, it decided to include the research papers in health fields as an important basic element of the code. Many reasons called for that decision, including:

First:

An important role is played by research in general and health research in particular in the awakening of nations.

Second:

There is a need to set down ethical principles to be observed in conducting research, establish patient rights, and protect researchers from legal and ethical consequences.

Third:

Although the question of research provoked much controversy at the session held to discuss this part of the code, with some participants arguing that no research of outstanding quality is conducted in Arab countries, the fact is that there are two types of research undertaken in some developing countries, including most Arab countries. These are:

A. Research conducted by international institutions on endemics of these countries that are unlikely to occur at industrial countries. This type requires a lot of carefulness and ethical commitment, which should not be influenced by the background of a person, whether he is rich or poor, since all people are equal, regardless of time and place. He should be regarded as a human being who enjoys his full rights, rather than a guinea pig to conduct experiments on.

B. Many - perhaps all - medicines are first discovered and tested in the West. When it is introduced into other countries, it is better to have their effectiveness re-evaluated and their side effects monitored when used by citizens of those countries. This is called for because in most Islamic countries the environment is different and so are the habits, type, quantity, and quality of food and drink. Daily behavior also varies from one country to another. Therefore, increased or reduced dosages may be needed, and some nations may have resistance to a certain new drug for domestic reasons that have no equivalent in the country where the drug has been invented.

Things do not stop at drug testing; research may also be for the purpose of introducing new treatment techniques, including surgeries, such as organ transplants, microinjection, genetic therapy, and cloning.

In addition to the scientific evaluation of treatment and performance, there is another dimension of importance for Islamic countries. Because in Islam things are either permissible or prohibited, before any experiment is begun, it has to be evaluated with reference to the principles of Islamic Law to determine how much of it is permissible and how much prohibited, making every Muslim reassured that all the medicines he take and treatment he receives are under Islamic supervision. It should be noted, however, that Islam has the rule that in necessity, prohibited things are rendered permissible.

Fourth:

The task of selecting an international academic reference that sets down research ethics was not easy. Eventually International Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical Research Involving Human Subjects (An Islamic Perspective) was chosen for several reasons.

A. This work has been translated to several languages, but not to Arabic. The IOMS took care of having an Arabic translation made, in order for it to be accessible by Arab researchers who are interested in knowing what is going on in the world.

B. Many countries throughout the world have adopted the principles included in this work and observe them when undertaking any research that involves human subjects.

C. About 200 scientists and specialists - representing various disciplines, cultures, and nationalities - collaborated in writing this work, achieving an remarkable outcome and arriving at points of view that are compatible with many human cultures.

Therefore, the IOMS believed it to be the best reference work in the field, and it can be consulted to find out the ethical attitude towards many questions. The IOMS had it translated into Arabic and reviewed by a scholar of Islamic jurisprudence to write down the Islamic rationale of every guideline in it. This Islamic rationale was then referred to a group of jurisprudence scholars, physicians, and people with interest in ethics and the law, in order to check the Islamic point of view in preparation for the discussions on the subject at a conference convened to issue the "The International Islamic Code for Medical and Health Ethics."

This is the outcome that participants at the conference agreed upon after three-day discussions. We have set down that outcome after incorporating the additions, omissions, and amendments requested by the participants.

We pray that we have succeeded in doing what God favors and is satisfied with.

Dr.Ahmed Rajai El- Gendy Islamic Center of Southern California