It's one thing to sacrifice yourself for your beliefs...
...but to sacrifice someone else, someone who has come to you for help, someone you are pledged to help?
The Pakistan Medical Association has vowed not to prescribe medicines from firms based in some European countries where controversial cartoons portraying the Prophet Mohammed were published, said Shahid Rao, the body's general secretary for Punjab province.
The association will boycott drugs from Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Germany and France to protest the 'blasphemous' drawings, Rao said.
'We have taken a unanimous decision and it will be immediately implemented in Pakistan,' Rao told AFP.
'Doctors in the country are very motivated on this issue,' he said. 'We would use alternate medicines in future till a public apology comes from these countries.'
Pharmacists have also vowed not to sell such medicines, Rao said.
The association is advising patients against using medicines from the offending countries if they are mistakenly prescribed by doctors, he added.
So what is the medical tradition in the Muslim world? Death before infidel medicine? Hardly:
Q: Are there treatments or medications, which are refused by Muslims?
A: Some Muslim physicians believe that healthcare practitioners should do everything in their power to save a life. Others do not believe in prolonging life beyond that which God has ordained – there should be no attempt to artificially prolong life (or misery). Healthcare professionals are believed to be assisting God in the care of patients but should not try to replace God. There is great emphasis on the sanctity of life, but also on the reality of death and the will of God.
However, Muslim's [sic] also believe there is a cure for every disease. Even the implantation of a pig's heart may be considered acceptable, if it is a medical necessity. Also alcohol or pig-based medications can be used if there are not other comparable alternatives and the medications are deemed to be medically necessary.
Everything in their power. Even accepting medicines developed by scientists who have no direct responsibility for the Muhammad cartoons.
Sounds to me these doctors aren't very good Muslims. Perhaps a few beheadings are in order. I certainly don't condone beheadings -- I'm just trying to be culturally sensitive here.
Ill patients will die so that these doctors can make a point. Young and old -- taken by death over a cartoon. Denied medicine by a medical practitioner eager to curry favour with...who? Allah? Allah will be pleased to watch these people die in agony?
Maybe. Probably. He seems to be that sort of God, doesn't he?
Of course not everyone will be denied medicine. I bet there will be exceptions for the right people, especially those with money.
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Comments
More insanity!!!
Posted by: Roy Eappen at February 6, 2006 05:23 PM
Can anyone name a pharmaceutical company from Denmark, Norway or Sweden? I sure can't.
Posted by: Curtis at February 6, 2006 05:33 PM
Novo Nordisk is Danish and makes Insulin!!!
Sanofil Aventis is French
Astra Zeneca is Swedish. Roche is Swiss. I am a physician. These companies make hundreds of medicationsThe idea of not relieving suffering because of some boycott is appalling.
Posted by: Roy Eappen at February 6, 2006 05:37 PM
Novo Nordisk is Danish and makes Insulin!!!
Sanofil Aventis is French
Astra Zeneca is Swedish. Roche is Swiss. I am a physician. These companies make hundreds of medicationsThe idea of not relieving suffering because of some boycott is appalling.
Posted by: Roy Eappen at February 6, 2006 05:38 PM
Insulin is an open commodity drug that several firms make.
I this is very much a violation of the hippocratic oath - but do Islamic doctor take such an oath?
Posted by: Curtis at February 6, 2006 05:42 PM
Restart the Reform party and sign me up.
Principles BEFORE Power.
Posted by: Lucille Humphry at February 6, 2006 06:02 PM
That is only one of their meds. They also make a number of vaccines and other meds.If you look at who they are banning they include almost the entire pHarmacopiea.We don't swear by aesclypus anymore here. I find these actions incomprehensible. The firms making insulin are Sanofil Aventys, Eli Lilly and Novo Nrdisk.
Posted by: Roy Eappen at February 6, 2006 06:05 PM
There exists the belief of "Inshallah" meaning "If Allah wills it..." Inshallah plays a major role in the muslim's daily life. And there are many producers of medicines out there who will willingly accept the heavy burden of providing for Pakistan's pharmacological needs.
If a patient dies, it is because the patient and the doctor have found disfavor in Allah's will. Inshallah trumps all.
Flip side being - with perhaps a glut of medicines on the market, perhaps health care costs will drop... or maybe not...
Posted by: AnotherDave at February 6, 2006 06:35 PM
Ya know if these patients are gonna die, why not recruit them for suicide bombers...
Think of the cost savings and virgin distribution this would help.
Crap, I'm starting to think like a Liberal, err a terrorist.
Posted by: tomax at February 6, 2006 07:27 PM
7th century logic unencumbered by modern ethics. . . how surprising. /
Posted by: MCPO Airdale at February 6, 2006 07:31 PM
7th century logic unencumbered by modern ethics. . . how surprising. /
Posted by: MCPO Airdale at February 6, 2006 07:31 PM
Yep... that's why Science, Engineering, Medicine are all labeled "Magic" in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Posted by: AnotherDave at February 6, 2006 08:31 PM
Now Now, the Hippocratic Oath goes back well before the 7 th century. (More than a millenium before actually, 4th 5th century BCE). Even in the 7th century this should piss a doctor off.
Actually It's expressly forbidden here
To please no one will I prescribe a deadly drug nor give advice which may cause his death.
Posted by: Joe Canadian at February 7, 2006 01:37 AM
I am an MD and this serves as another example of Islamic zealotry. Physicians are supposed to put their patients needs first and one assumes that large nos of these pakistanis have trained in the West. So much for our ability to infuse western values of decency and tolerance into these Islamists.
Posted by: G Whatt at February 7, 2006 11:50 AM
Are we sure this isn't a black operation by Martin's Liberals to strike back at Denmark over Hans Island that may have gotten a little out of control?
As the left says.. Qui bono? Less evidence than this is plenty for the left.
Posted by: moptop at February 9, 2006 08:30 AM
 
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