لخّصلي

The patients were treated through a scheme starting with physiotherapy and diet; if this failed, drugs were used, and at last, surgery would be resorted to. The physiotherapy included exercises and water baths.Al Tabari, the chief physician in 970 A.D., described the Islamic code of ethics as follows (Hamamch 1971, Levy 1967): I. Personal characters of the physician: The Physician ought to be modest, virtuous, merciful, and un addicted to liquor.Medical Ethics in Islam The medical profession was a well respected specialty and its Ieaders kept it this way by laying down proper ethics.The Arabs had an elaborate system of dieting and were aware of food deficiencies.II. His obligation towards patients: He should avoid predicting whether a patient will live or die, only God (Allah) knows.If the physician prescribes a drug orally, he should make sure that the patient understands the name correctly, in case he would ask for the wrong drug and get worse instead of better.Drugs were divided into two groups: simple and compound drugs.If these conservative measures failed, surgery was un dertaken.He should wear clean clothes, be dignified, and have well- groomed hair and beard.They were aware of the interaction between drugs; thus, they used simple drugs first.He should select his company to be persons of good reputation.

The patients were treated through a scheme starting with
physiotherapy and diet; if this failed, drugs were used, and at
last, surgery would be resorted to. The physiotherapy included
exercises and water baths. The Arabs had an elaborate system
of dieting and were aware of food deficiencies. Proper nutrition
was an important item of treatment.
Drugs were divided into two groups: simple and compound
drugs. They were aware of the interaction between drugs;
thus, they used simple drugs first. If these failed, compound
drugs were used which are made from two or more com
pounds. If these conservative measures failed, surgery was un
dertaken.
Medical Ethics in Islam
The medical profession was a well respected specialty and its
Ieaders kept it this way by laying down proper ethics. Al
Tabari, the chief physician in 970 A.D., described the Islamic
code of ethics as follows (Hamamch 1971, Levy 1967):
I. Personal characters of the physician:
The Physician ought to be modest, virtuous, merciful, and un
addicted to liquor. He should wear clean clothes, be dignified,
and have well- groomed hair and beard. He should not join the
ungodly and scaffers, nor sit at their table. He should select his
company to be persons of good reputation. He should be care
ful of what he says and should not hesitate to ask forgiveness if
he has made an error. He should be forgiving and never seek
19
revenge. He should be friendly and peacemaker. He should not
make jokes or laugh at the improper time or place.
II. His obligation towards patients:
He should avoid predicting whether a patient will live or die,
only God (Allah) knows. He ought not loose his temper when
his patient keeps asking questions, but should answer gently
and compassionately. He should treat alike the rich and the
poor, the master and the servant, the powerful and the power
less, the elite and the illiterate. God will reward him if he helps
the needy. The physician should not be late for his rounds or
his house calls. He should be punctual and reliable.
He should not wrangle about his fees. If the patient is very ill
or in an emergency, he should be thankful, no matter how
much he is paid. He should not give drugs to a pregnant wo
man for an abortion unless necessary for the mother's health.
If the physician prescribes a drug orally, he should make sure
that the patient understands the name correctly, in case he
would ask for the wrong drug and get worse instead of better.
He should be decent towards women and should not divulge
the secrets of his patients