Jul 14, 2022
This episode features George Muishout (Department of History,
European Studies and Religious Studies, Amsterdam School for
Historical Studies, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The
Netherlands).
To Muslims it is important that medical decisions are in accordance
with Islamic values. In life-threatening illness, Muslims ask imams
for religious advice on medical decision-making. So far, it is
unknown how imams view and perform this task in palliative
care.
Imams advise the faithful not to consent to withholding or
terminating treatment based on diagnostics because they feel this
does not align with belief in God’s omnipotence and will. Imams are
reluctant to advise patients to consent to termination of
treatment for fear that all Muslims involved will be held
accountable for someone’s death by God in the afterlife. Fatwas by
Muslim expert committees play an important role in shaping
medical decision-making in palliative care.
Palliative care tailored to the cultural religious needs of Muslim
minorities must be developed. Implementing adequate palliative care
for Muslim minorities requires sustainable collaboration with imams
and their congregations.