Bioethics

Research in bioethics at AKU-ISMC seeks to better understand contemporary concerns in Muslim contexts. With this in mind, the Institute would like to engage in a systematic reflection on bioethics as it relates to Muslims in a variety of contexts – as individuals and as part of minority and majority groups. Through this, AKU-ISMC hopes to act as a platform for recognition of current issues in bioethics that relate to Muslim communities and to initiate a dialogue between relevant professionals, including heath care leaders and individuals of different religious traditions and communities. AKU-ISMC hopes to accommodate within its research on bioethics:

• the development of a research agenda that addresses key concerns in bioethics, with a particular focus on Muslim contexts;
  
• the formulation of a critical dialogue between different approaches to these concerns – exploring both traditional approaches and current intellectual considerations and methodologies;
  
• engagement with both practitioners and ethicists in an open discussion that aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice.

To date, there is little scholarly research on bioethics with a focus on Muslim contexts. The need for such research is urgent and particularly relevant to the Aga Khan University given its work in the field of healthcare. AKU-ISMC will thus endeavour to begin outlining a research agenda in bioethics with a focus on Muslim contexts, in collaboration with other relevant institutions.

In 2005, Dr Ayman Shihadeh was a Research Fellow at AKU-ISMC. During his fellowship with the Institute, he surveyed existing research on biomedical ethics in Muslim contexts.

In September 2007, AKU-ISMC held a Bioethics Planning Meeting, the first step towards the development of a bioethics research plan. Attended by scholars from around the world, the meeting explored the history of bioethics and surveyed the present status of the field. To download a list of participants and their respective profiles, please click here.