Author: George Muishout

Supervisors: Pof. Gerard Wiegers and Prof. Hanneke van Laarhoven

University: Faculty of Humanities, Amsterdam School of Historical Studies (ASH)

Date of Award: May 2, 2023

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the role of religion in palliative settings involving Muslim doctors or religious professionals and Muslim patients and their relatives. It seeks to answer the question how religion shapes Muslim attitudes in medical decision-making in palliative care in the Netherlands.

The thesis demonstrates that in classical Islamic discourse, medical treatment may be withheld or terminated in the case of incurable illness, while modern Islamic discourse tends to put great emphasis on prolonging life through maximum treatment.

The results of the empirical part of the thesis suggest that the professional practice of Turkish imams and Muslim doctors regarding palliative decision making are embedded in the religious and medical institutions they represent and cater to the demands that are part of their jobs within these institutions.

The thesis demonstrates that Muslim doctors take a comfort-oriented approach aimed at preventing suffering from pain, which for some of them conflicts with their personal religious beliefs. Turkish imams predominately advocate for maximum treatment in their advice regarding medical decision-making to their congregants, for the conviction that all Muslims involved will be held accountable by God for questioning His omnipotence.

Together the results create the picture of a healthcare environment in which medical practice and religious beliefs are rather at odds.

Table of contents

• Introduction
• Muslims and medical treatment: An exploration of the ethical-legal status of treatment within the Sunni Islamic tradition
• Muslim jurisprudence on withdrawing treatment from incurable patients: A directed content analysis of the Islamic Fiqh Council of the Muslim World League
• Turkish imams and their role in decision-making in palliative care. A directed content and narrative analysis
• Muslim physicians and palliative care: Attitudes towards the use of palliative sedation
• Muslim doctors and decision making in palliative care: A discourse analysis
• General discussion

Read the full thesis HERE.

Source: University of Amsterdam

Dr. Al-Issa and his delegation visited the headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior in Rome, where Minetti spoke of the important role played by the association in combatting extremism and unifying the Muslim communities while encouraging them to move towards moderation. The association has called on all followers of various cultures and religions, especially Islam, to respect the Constitution and the laws and culture of the country they reside in while carrying out their Islamic rituals, in accordance with the guarantees, and the constitutional and legal rights of each country.

He hoped that the secretary-general’s visit to Italy would achieve the goals of serving the humanity, especially after his meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican City. Dr. Al-Issa thanked the minister for his interest in the Muslim World League, stressing that one of its objectives was to promote the positive integration of the Muslim communities in their societies and encourage them to respect the citizenship charter, which they had accepted, by spreading awareness messages during conferences, seminars and meetings across the globe, thus affirming that Islam was the religion of truth and loyalty.

Dr. Al-Issa also held a meeting with Maria Yurato, Director of Religious Affairs in the Italian Government.

During the meeting, they discussed several issues of mutual concern. The two sides also discussed the legal status of several Islamic activities in Italy, and the co-operation between the association and the ministry to unify the Muslim community and improve its representation in the Italian government and civil institutions. The secretary-general thanked the Association of Italian Exhibitions for providing the required facilities for a dialogue, hospitality and appreciation, especially in the light of the association’s renewed vision.

Source: Thomson Reuters Zawya.com