The professional behavior of the heelers towards society is a universal medical issue. Conflict between physicians, patients due to personal values, social values, and avowed values of medical profession may occur during medical practice.
There may be dilemmas in medical practice due to cultural values of patient. Those dilemmas can be decreased by ethical guided decision making in clinical ground. The challenges occur as culture, religion and social values may conflict with the medical procedures like blood transfusion of Jehovah’s Witness, Ramadan, Female genital mutilation and childhood male circumcision on the basis of religious ground, postmortem examination and cultural considerations etc.
1. Jehovah’s Witness and blood transfusion:
Jehovah’s Witnesses obey the biblical injunction to abstain from blood and blood products. So they may refuse to administration of blood and blood products. The refusal to administrate must be respected. In the situations which are not life threatening, Doctors should consult with patient and their parents for the consideration of alternative forms of management. In life threatening conditions doctor should consult and may go against the patient’s autonomy.
2. Ramadan
Ramadan is festival celebrated by Muslims in which they fast form sunrise to sunset during the month of Ramadan. People who are healthy must fast; not fasting intentionally (who is healthy) is considered sin. But persons with chronic diseases, unwell, children are no expected to fast. Being health professional, It’s your duty to advice the patient on how to fast safely.
3. Childhood male circumcision on religious ground
Childhood male circumcision is evident in some cultures and religion like Islam, in which foreskin of the penis is removed. Circumcision for religious belief is controversial and some consider it as an abuse of right of child. If both parents agree, the circumcision can be done and it is seemed to limit the child’s right to make an autonomous choice for later date.
4. Female Genital mutilation
Female genital mutilations are being done in some cultures. In 2000, The World Health Organization (WHO) defines female genital mutilation as “Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.” Its doctor’s duty to educate the people about the danger of female genital mutilation and its illegality.
5. Postmortem examination
Some religions like Judaism and Islam do not allow post mortem examinations. But the post mortem examination are needed by court for legal purpose. Doctors should be aware that people from different religions and cultures will want to follow certain procedures after the death.
