Agenda on advance medical directives

Muslim scholars take the view that there is a limit to a patient’s autonomy in choosing the forms of treatment and care, as a doctor’s professional advice should also be considered.

FROM the perspective of the medical practitioner, an advance medical directive (AMD) is a proactive measure by an individual to help family members and next-of-kin decide the forms of treatment that must be provided when the individual has lost the ability to make his/her own decisions.