Permanent diversion stomas: "Guidelines for Muslim physicians and patients "

Abstract

Background: Ethical issues in medical practice are increasing in number, diversity and complexity and posing professional diemmas for physicians. It is the duty of Muslim physicians in collaboration with jurists, to resolve these issues. Objectives: These guidelines aim at answering the following two questions: 1. On religious grounds to what extent is a Muslim patient bound ground to accept surgical treatment requiring permanent diversion of stool and urine? 2. What should be the role of medical staff in convincing the patient aril his relatives to accept diversion stomas. Methods: 1. Identification of the consequences of diversion stomas. 2. Verification of the religious rule in relation to seeking treatment. 3. Identify the effect of carrying a stoma bag on the patient's purity during worship. 4. Outline the role of the medical staff in convincing the patient vial his relatives to accept a needed stoma. Results & Discussion: A Muslim patient needing a permanent diversion stoma has a religiously proven duty to listen to the instructions of a proficient physician in order to save himself if safety is most probable. Carrying a stoma bag does not interfere totally with patients purity. The exact role of medical staff in convincing the patient and his relatives to accept the procedure is discussed.