Honouring Wishes of Patients: An Islamic View on the Implementation of the Advance Medical Directive in Malaysia

Abstract

An Advance Medical Directive (AMD) is a document in which competent patients express their wishes regarding their preferred choice of future medical plans in the event they become incompetent. AMD is important in relation to the patient’s right to refuse treatment. However, they must also consider cultural and religious values of different communities. In Islam, there are several concerns that need to be addressed, namely the validity of the AMD according to Islamic jurisprudence and patients’ right to end-of-life decision-making. To address these concerns, this article refers to multiple sources of Islamic jurisprudence, such as the Quran, the tradition of Prophet Muhammad and the works of Islamic scholars related to this topic. Based on the findings, Islam does not forbid the use of AMD as a method to honour patients’ wishes in their end-of-life care. Islamic jurisprudence emphasises on the importance of seeking patients’ consent before carrying out any medical procedures. However, several conditions need to be given due attention, such as: i) a patient’s cognitive capacity during the process of drawing up an AMD; ii) the professional views of medical experts; iii) the involvement of family members in end-of-life care and iv) the limitations of a patient’s decision-making in creating an AMD.

Understanding of Animal Science Students on Livestock Fiqh : Case Study Students of Animal Science Department State Agricultural Polytechnic Pangkajene Kepulauan, South of Sulawesi, Indonesia

“…Laws regarding animal cruelty, injustice towards animals, and animal rights are also relevant in this context. Additionally, Islamic law emphasizes seeking patients' consent before carrying out any medical procedures, highlighting the importance of consent in Islamic jurisprudence (Malek et al, 2021).…”

Termination of life to relieve their suffering: Malaysian Medical, Legal, and Nursing Perspectives on Euthanasia

“…While several non-governmental organizations and medical societies currently produce written guidelines for the practical aspects of end-of-life care, the development of a comprehensive regulatory system in this field has not yet reached its full potential. In Islamic nations such as Malaysia where euthanasia remains illegal, some scholars contend that Islam does not prohibit the use of Advance Medical Directives (AMDs) as a means to honour patients' preferences regarding their end-of-life care (Malek et al, 2021). Essentially, if a patient is afflicted with a terminal illness where medical interventions would prove futile, refraining from or discontinuing such treatment is deemed permissible, provided healthcare professionals obtain the patient's consent before proceeding with any medical procedures (Madadin et al, 2020).…”