The dilemma of nurses in assisting medical practices against Islamic principles

Introduction: In a country where Muslim is a minority, issues related to medicine and bioethics is always being discussed amongst the believers. Nurses, as the largest proportion of healthcare discipline always left perplexed to juggle with the obligation to perform their duties albeit the demand to assist physician or surgeon to perform procedures that against Islamic practices, for instance, assisting in prohibited abortion and organ transplant as well as physician-assisted dying (euthanasia). Materials and methods: A literature search was conducted using the Google Scholar database until the year 2019. The literature selected were written in English using keywords of nurses, abortion, physician-assisted dying, euthanasia, organ transplant, ethical issue, ethical dilemma, legal and Islamic principles. The search also including related verses in the Al-Qur’an that associated with the practices. The searched articles then were analysed accordingly to identified the perspectives from Islamic principles in regards to those medical practices. Result: Most of the articles intensely discussing the ethical dilemma, not only from the perspectives of Islam but from other religion as well. However, some countries remain practising the procedure despite the debates and this creates conflict for the Muslim nurses involved. Conclusion: As a professional, nurses abide by their code of practice and they are allowed to tell any employers if there is any practice restricted. However, as an employee they also expose to the disciplinary action imposed by the employer if they decline to assist in the medical practices against Islamic principles and their license could be revoked or suspended