Islam; Abortion; Withdrawal Of Life Support; Stillbirth; Infant Death; British Pakistanis.
Islam; Abortion; Withdrawal Of Life Support; Stillbirth; Infant Death; British Pakistanis.
This is an article that has an evaluation of the ethical predicament with regard to the termination of pregnancy, withdrawal of life support and management of childbirth. These aspects are with relation to exceptional care for a diminutive sample of Muslims who are of British, Pakistani origin. From the article, the sample of the population indicates parents who have babies diagnosed with anomalies that are critical. The case studies in the article come from a qualitative study of sixty six families of Pakistan origin but reside in Southern England. The article reveals how negotiations took place among Muslim parents. This was with regard to the professional knowledge of their religious experts, doctors and elder family members. They did this with the aim of making a response to the moral dilemmas that they were experiencing.
According to the article, there is minimal knowledge of the observation that Islam allows the termination of pregnancy for serious or dangerous abnormalities. The article also shows that there were minimal discussions among British Pakistanis with regard to the subject of terminating a pregnancy. In the article, there is also discussion of the concerns that parents have in wrong decisions. These decisions are with regard to withdrawal of artificial life support from infants who have several anomalies. Most of the parents of Pakistani origin have to deal with the predicaments of pre or neo natal diagnosis of fatal anomalies. While Pakistani parents have these dilemmas in England, they would not have similar dilemmas if they were in rural Pakistan. The article discusses several cases, and it is evident that the central local comprehension of Islamic ethics is giving priority to life.
From the article there are parent responses that portray the existing family and local community opinion of what is correct and customary conduct. With regard to withdrawal of life support, and abortion, parents were of the view that there should be an authoritative religious opinion. This was in situations where there was probable conflict with existing local views. In some of the cases, some of the parents have a feel of guilt or wrong doing for hiding their decision. This is because they fear having disapproval from community members of relatives even when the decisions they made hindered probable danger. The article discusses that there is a way through which parents and health service providers can make fully informed decisions. This is by having additional information about the situations in which Islam allows withdrawal of life support from infants in exceptional care and abortion.
There also should be additional open discussion with regard to the emotional and social essence of public awareness of miscarriage or still birth.According to the article, there are instances where medical human resource does not bring out the subject of prenatal testing with Muslim parents. They do so since they are of the opinion that it would be meaningless since Islam forbids abortion. The result of this prejudgment of patient’s religious views with regard to reproductive resolutions undercuts the principle of equality of access to health services. The article is of the view that parents should possess the freedom and have the chance to evaluate all their reproductive options. By providing parents with these options, they can be able to make informed decisions. Alison Shaw (2011).
Reference:
Alison Shaw (2011) ‘They say Islam has a solution for everything, so why are there no guidelines for this?’ ethical dilemmas associated with the births and deaths of infants with fatal abnormalities from a small sample of Pakistani Muslim couples in Britain. Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
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