YOURSAY | Stop playing God in health matters

YOURSAY | ‘Treat patients based on conscience and Hippocratic Oath.’

S’gor Mufti Dept: Giving anti-HIV drug to LGBT is colluding in sin

The realist: Will the religious authorities stay out of medical-related matters? Religious convictions come from the heart. Those who are teachers in religious faith and lifestyle have failed.

Religion enforced through the powers of the state and unfair laws does not gain support and neither does it take root in the people.

How come many do not complain about these matters? Is it because they have a lower moral standard and are stupid?

Many practise some form of belief that can be considered religious faith. Normally, the faith is handed down by the parents, with teaching and guidance from peers, and also by the community. Some receive religious instruction in schools, churches, mosques, and temples.

There are organisations that seem to be doing a much better job in their communities. They do not have the moral police to catch people doing things incompatible with their faith.

Are the religious authorities trying to cover their inadequacies and justify their salaries earned? They do not seem to have any compassion for the people.

Bobbyo: Before we can even pass judgment on any person who is involved in LGBT activities, we should first understand why they are involved in such activities.

Many are genuinely involved as their body systems may react differently. So let us stop judging others. Concerning pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication for those who have HIV, we should encourage it. This will help in curbing the spread of the disease.

We cannot stop LGBT activities, no matter how hard we try. It has been around for a long, long time. At least we can help them to stop suffering the effects of the disease.

Let us stop playing the part of God. Let us at least be humans and practise humanity.

Vijay47: Considering this advice was given by a Malaysian religious body, I am not in the least shocked they advocate PrEP be not provided to those who engage in homosexual activities.

However, I have three questions that the Selangor Mufti Department may wish to clarify:

1. Can PrEP be given to those who participate in heterosexual activity which might carry a risk of HIV?

2. What would the fate be of LGBT persons who contract HIV?

3. What is the proper response for a person whose spouse has contracted HIV?

Actually, I have a fourth question – where is the compassion you guys are always screaming about?

VioletCondor6908: Do these Muslim doctors and other healthcare officials know about the Hippocratic Oath? To heal the sick? Maybe in this day and age, medical graduates here and in other countries are not so aware of this oath usually attributed to Greek physician Hippocrates.

A patient’s morality, ethnic origins, sex, age, behaviour/ inclinations, or religious beliefs should not become the criteria for a doctor’s treatment.

If a human being is sick, your duty is to treat and attempt to cure them of whatever ails them. And if you refuse, leave the noble profession. One profession people the world over hold in high regard is the medical profession. Do not let it be smeared or disgraced.

OceanMasterII: There are no constitutional provisions for religion and religious beliefs to override basic universal medical care that every citizen is entitled to.

The costs of such exercise, both on prevention and cure of HIV, are eventually borne by the taxpayers, and taxpayers in Malaysia, as we know, are made up of people of all faiths and personal beliefs.

Further, no one is asking for money collected from zakat - which is supposed to be channelled for Islamic affairs - to be used for managing HIV issues. So, let the professionals, who are paid by taxpayers, deal with it.

Anon25: PrEP is presumably dispensed for free to anyone who requests it, which is the right thing to do. So how is the dispensing authority to know who the recipient is going to have sex with?

If the recipient lies, there is no way to find out the truth. The purpose of this exercise is to prevent the spread of Aids. So, if someone is planning a visit across the border and wants to be protected, I say give it to him.

I commend the Health Ministry for supplying PrEP to anybody who requests it. This is an excellent way to control the spread of Aids.

Thickskin: Doctors must treat everyone who is sick - no exceptions. Any doctor who deliberately causes harm by denying treatment based on personal beliefs should have their Annual Practising Certificate cancelled permanently.

I hope those who are not health professionals refrain from making comments on this issue, as they are not qualified to do so.

Nash: Dear healthcare professionals, please treat patients based on your conscience and Hippocratic Oath, where you promise you shall not discriminate against who to treat. Every patient who requires treatment from you is your responsibility to treat.

Please ignore advice from religious councils if they interfere with medical practice on moral grounds.

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