Islamic Bio-ethics/Online Program

Transcription

1 Islamic Bio-ethics/Online Program Module Syllabus Module Description: The history of Islamic Bioethics will be explored, followed by a systematic evaluation of the process by which discoveries that become new drugs, new therapeutic methods or medical interventions are evaluated by an Islamic bioethicist. This module will provide a systematic comprehension of the sources of islamic bioethics, how the islamic bioethical positions are generated, evolved and progressed through research to actual implementation or recommendations stage. Current trends and issues in the biological field will be critically evaluated with a focus on how these activities are consistent or inconsistent with the Islamic bio-ethical standards. Contemporary developments relating to the Islamic Bioethics in various Muslim-majority and non-muslim majority countries will also be explored. This module consists of two main parts: The first part covers the precursors and sources of Islamic Bioethics: Islamic practice, regulations, and methodologies (fiqh,usul al-fiqh), spirituality (Tazkiyah), Philosophy (alfalsafah Al Islamiyah). Other sources that contributed to the field of Islamic Bioethics and will impact further development of the field as new ethical challenges arise from the transformational, innovations in science, biology and technology, will also be examined. The second part of the course covers the methodology used for deriving Bioethical recommendations based on Islamic values. Who is qualified to issue Islamic bioethical stands, how are they derived, and what is the role and application of various professional functions in the deduction, e.g. Clinicians, religious scholars, chaplains, and researchers. It will give the student an idea about global Research institutions in the field of Islamic Bioethics and their work.

2 Objectives: The specific objectives of this module are: 1. Provide a systematic comprehension of what is Islamic Bioethics, how it is developed and why. 2. Critically evaluate current trends and issues in science, biology and technology, from an Islamic bioethics perspective with a focus on how the Islamic bioethists utilize bioethics and Islamic jurisprudence tools to bring ethics positions rooted in Islamic values and support the Almaqasid. Learner Experience: This module provides the historical root of the Ethics theory and its applications from an Islamic perspective. It covers the framework needed for the Bioethicist to take new inventions and evaluate them using the Islamic principles and move forward with a recommendation for an ethical position. It discusses the work needed to satisfy the ethical standard of Islamic rules and regulations. Upon completion, there should be a clear understanding of how and why Islamic ethical positions are developed. This will include an understanding of the Principles of Bioethics in Islam; relationships of the ethical spheres to Islamic principles. It describes the relationship between the Islamic bioethicist on one side and physicians and researchers on another. It sheds light on Islamic commitments to Bioethics, meaning of risk (Mafsadah) in Islam and the mandate for risk reduction (Dara Almafsadah). There will also be an attempt to foresee the future of the field of Islamic bioethics by looking at some of the new technologies/ novel therapeutic methods that are becoming available and provide some initial Bioethical position based on Islamic principles. Learning Outcomes: Students who successfully complete this six - weeks module will be able to: 1. Demonstrate a critical comprehension of the basics of Islamic bioethics, precursors of Islamic bioethics and evaluation tools. 2. Systematically evaluate the process by which discoveries are evaluated ethically based on Islamic rules. 3. Demonstrate a critical awareness of the management of the various ethical issues as they arise. 4. Systematically analyze and critically evaluate ethical issues from an Islamic perspective in medical, scientific, and bio-medical engineering fields.. Learning Techniques: Students will consolidate theoretical concepts and develop skills through discussion and exercises. Students will acquire learnings through a combination of self-study materials provided, and their online interactions with other students and the instructor. Discussions and collaboration between students and instructor, and through student s own exploration of recommended further reading, will be critical in consolidating knowledge. One of the strengths of a pioneered online learning program like this is the

3 high level of student interaction, where students are encouraged to raise the ethical questions and allow other students to handle them with the instructor s guidance for the mutual benefit. Another important element is the application of the IB principles covered in this module to the student s own field of interest, or work. Pre-requisites: (Not Mandatory) it is preferred for the student to have basic understanding of Islam, Islam 101, Islamic Jurisprudence 101, Islamic Usul Alfiqh 101, Islamic philosophy, Islamic spirituality, and General Bioethics Online Software and Textbook There is a required core text for this module. See attached Book description below. Optional and supplementary readings from the web or print sources will be identified when appropriate. Readings may be supplemented by visiting lecturers, and video streams from online resources. Moodle will be used for online posting and communications between instructor and students. Online etiquette will be enforced and attendance is expected in all sessions unless there is an excuse provided preferably before the session except in cases of emergency. Module Readings Textbooks (tentative): Islamic Bioethics: Current Issues and challenges. 272pp-Oct 2017 Edited by: Alireza Bagheri (Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran), Khalid Alali (Qatar University, Qatar) ISBN: (hardcover) ISBN: (ebook) Students are provided with weekly reading assignments. Two chapters from the assigned book will be discussed every week. Students are encouraged to make use of related academic and professional journals to supplement the course materials and to assist in the preparation of assignments. Additional resources: Various journal articles, (see examples below) Overview of module work: Students are required in weekly sessions 1-6 to submit: One individual Discussion item in the form of a Question or an answer (D/Q/A). Between 4 and 6 meaningful postings in response to fellow student submissions, over and above the initial submissions for every week. One Hand-in Assignment in weeks 3 (optional), week 5 (mandatory) which will serve as the Individual Project (IP).

4 Hand-in Assignments Hand-In Assignment is to be submitted to the Assignments folder by the end of the last day of the module week or via to the instructor Hand-in Assignment can be worked on in collaboration with other students. Instructor will provide feedback for the HA during the weekly interaction with students, via or during a dedicated office hour. Individual Projects (IP): 2000 Word Assignment The Individual project will be confirmed and set in Week 2 or 3 of the module. It will be expected at week 5 and it will be accepted if submitted at week 3. Students are expected to write 2000 words on one of the following items. Identify a novel contemporary health discovery or current health issue, and discuss the Bioethical implications including the analysis and conclusion from an Islamic Bioethical perspective. Consider all stakeholders affecting and affected by the Islamic bioethical issues, what kind of basic education need to be provided to them and in what form? What do you think the field of Islamic bioethics will look like in ten years time? Assessment: Attendance and participation including reflections posted to online forum: 30% Final project: 70% Week One: Introduction to the Class: Administrative Matters (Overview of the syllabus, discussion of reading materials, course logestics, online technical matters, online participation, IP) Week Two to Week Six: Discussion of two-three chapters from the Textbook. Week Two to Week Three: Individual project will be confirmed and set. Week Five: Individual Project to be submitted for evaluation Week Six: final in class lecture. Additional readings: [CC] Rahman, Abdul, C. Amine, and Ahmed Elkadi. "Islamic Code of Medical Professional Ethics. Papers Presented to the First International Conference on Islamic Medicine Celebrating the Advent of the Fifteenth Century Hijri. Kuwait Ministry of Health: Kuwait, * Hathout, Hassan. "Contemporary Arab World." In Encyclopedia Bioethics, Second Edition. Edited by Warren T. Reich, New York: Macmillan, 1995, pp

5 * Levey, Martin. "Medical Deontology in Ninth Century Islam." In Legacies in Ethics and Medicine, edited by Chester R. Burns. New York: Science History Publications, 1977, pp * Nanji, Azim A. "Medical Ethics and the Islamic Tradition." Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 13 (1988): * Hathout, Hassan. "Islamic Basis for Biomedical Ethics." In: Pellegrino, Edmund D., Patricia Mazzarella, and Pietro Corsi, Eds. Transcultural Dimensions in Medical Ethics. Frederick, MD: University Publishing Group, 1992, pp Kecia Ali, Sexual Ethics and Islam: Feminist Reflections on Qur'an Hadith and Jurisprudence, (Oneworld, 2006). John Brockopp ed. Islamic Ethics of Life: Abortion War and Euthanasia 2006 (University of South Carolina Press, 2003). Vardit Rispler-Chaim Islamic Medical Ethics in the Twentieth Century (Brill, 1993). Amyn B. Sajoo Muslim Ethics: Emerging Vistas (I. B. Taurus, 2004).