By Oula Mahfouz
Active assisted dying is prohibited in Germany. No one is allowed to administer a lethal drug to another person because they want to end their life. Islam forbids assisted dying in almost all cases. At the University Hospital in Tübingen, a Muslim counselling team can also provide advice on these issues.
In Germany, however, there are cases of assisted dying that are permitted by law: passive assisted dying, i.e. the renunciation of life-prolonging measures such as artificial nutrition or artificial respiration. Indirect assisted dying is also permitted, i.e. measures to alleviate pain that may result in the patient dying sooner. The issue of assisted suicide is in a grey area: a helper procures a lethal medication for a person who is willing to die. He or she may provide it, but may not administer it. The Federal Constitutional Court had lifted the ban on “commercially assisted suicide” and demanded a new legal regulation. However, this failed in the Bundestag last year.
In Islam, the regulations for assisted dying are derived from its understanding of death. Death in Islam is seen as a transitional phase to the afterlife. There are many verses in the Koran and traditions of the Prophet Mohammed that speak of death and life after death. In the Islamic understanding, life in this world is seen as a temporary test, while death is seen as a transition to the afterlife, which is more stable and important. Death is also seen as a divine destiny and fate, as part of Allah’s creation for mankind. After death, man is held accountable for his life on earth according to his deeds and beliefs and is rewarded or punished with either paradise or hell. Muslims are encouraged to endure the challenges of life and prepare for death through fear of God and obedience to Allah.
Therefore, assisted dying is forbidden in Islam. Muslims agree that it is not permissible for anyone to kill themselves or others without a legitimate reason, and the proof of this is what is written in the Quran: “And do not kill yourselves (one another). Allah is surely merciful to you.” (Qur’an, Sura 4:29). In their concept, assisted dying is seen as interfering with God’s will to end the life he has granted his creatures. And only God determines the time at which a person dies—and also how and where. No human being has the right to do so.
However, some Muslims accept the termination of life-sustaining measures in the case of a brain-dead person if a specialised medical committee has confirmed brain death and there is therefore no hope of a return to life. Another exception is the termination of a pregnancy if the mother’s life would otherwise be endangered. If it is not possible to save the mother and foetus together, the doctor must give priority to the mother’s life.
Muslim chaplain Hazem Elgafari also said in an interview with tuenews INTERNATIONAL: “No one can force the patient to end his life because there is no hope of recovery for him, whether Muslim or non-Muslim. Removing equipment or stopping certain medications is done after a discussion with the patient’s family and after their consent, otherwise the medical staff can be held legally liable according to the regulations. Several discussions are held with the patient’s family in the presence of a team of social workers, psychologists, the hospital chaplaincy and the hospital’s ethics committee.”
At Tübingen University Hospital, patients can seek counselling from the Muslim chaplaincy team, which is led by Muslim chaplain Hazem Elgafari. The voluntary Muslim hospital chaplaincy can be contacted by telephone and email:
07071/29-87679
Hazem.Elgafari@med.uni-tuebingen.de
For further information:
https://www.ndr.de/kultur/Sterbehilfe-Was-ist-in-Deutschland-erlaubt-was-strafbar,sterbehilfe386.html
tun24050202
Die Tübinger CRONA-Klinik. Foto: tuenews INTERNATIONAL / Mostafa Elyasian.
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