Islamic and Christian viewpoints on biomedical aspects of life beginning and terminal stage

The Abrahamic religions—Islam, Christianity, and Judaism—center on worshiping the almighty God who created the world and sent messengers to guide humanity. Despite differences in beliefs and practices, their followers share common moral principles, particularly in medicine. Medical ethics, as an applied discipline, establishes codes based on these foundational values to address ethical dilemmas faced by healthcare professionals during diagnosis and treatment. A value-based approach helps reduce moral distress for religious medical staff by providing predetermined professional guidelines for ethical decision-making. In the third millennium, Islamic and Christian scholars have engaged in ongoing discussions to develop these guidelines, driven by demands from medical practitioners and researchers at the forefront of medical science.



This study analyzes contemporary medical guidelines, professional codes, and educational materials, focusing on Islamic and Christian perspectives on ethical decision-making regarding beginning- and end-of-life issues. The scope is limited to countries like the UK, Australia, the US, and parts of Europe, pioneers in advanced technologies for assisted fertility and end-stage patient care. The analysis reveals striking similarities in these religions’ stances against induced abortion and euthanasia, rooted in the shared belief that life is a divine gift. These perspectives not only shape the medical practices of their adherents but also highlight ethical constraints in biomedical research.