Medical Ethics in Islam

Medical Ethics in Islam In our lives, we often face difficult decisions, some relating to life and death, medical ethics. Should I donate a kidney so that another may live? Should I turn off life support for my brain-dead child? Should I mercifully end the suffering of my terminally ill, elderly mother? If I am pregnant with quintuplets, should I abort one or more so that the others have a better chance of surviving? If I face infertility, how far should I go in treatment so that I might, Allah-willing, have a child? As medical treatment continues to expand and advance, more ethical questions come up. For guidance on such matters, Muslims turn first to the Quran. Allah gives us general guidelines to follow, that are constant and timeless. The Saving of Life ...We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people. And if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.... (Quran 5:32) Life and Death are in Allahs Hands Blessed be He in whose hands is the Dominion, and he has Power over all things. He who created death and life that He may test which of you are best in deed, and He is Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving. (Quran 67: 1-2) No soul can die except by Allahs permission. (Quran 3:185) Human Beings Should Not Play God Does not man see that it is We who created him from sperm. Yet behold! He stands as an open adversary! And he makes comparisons for Us, and forgets his own creation. He says who can give life to (dry) bones and decomposed ones? Say, He will give them life who created them for the first time, for He is versed in every kind of creation. (Quran 36: 77-79) Abortion Kill not your children on a plea of want. We will provide sustenance for you and for them. Come not near shameful deeds whether open or secret. Take not life which God has made sacred except by way of justice and law. Thus He commands you that you may learn wisdom. (6:151) Kill not your children for fear of want. We shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you. Verily the killing of them is a great sin. (17:31) Other Sources of Islamic Law In modern times, as medical treatments advance further, we come across new situations which are not described in detail in the Quran. Oftentimes these fall into a gray area, and it is not as simple to decide what is right or wrong. We then turn to the interpretation of Islamic scholars, who are well-versed in the Quran and Sunnah. If scholars come to a consensus on an issue, it is a strong indication that it is a correct position. Some examples of scholarly fatwas on the subject of medical ethics include: Organ donation is permissible as long as no financial incentive is given, and no permanent harm comes to the donor.Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are prohibited.Mechanical life support should be continued until brain-death or imminent death has been confirmed by a physician or team of physicians, in which case it can be withdrawn.   Assisted reproduction is allowed as long as it is done with sperm and egg between husband and wife.Late-stage abortion is condemned unless necessary to save the mothers life. For specific and unique situations, a patient is advised to speak to an Islamic scholar for guidance.

How To Streak a Bacterial Culture

How To Streak a Bacterial Culture Bacterial culture streaking allows bacteria to reproduce on a culture medium in a controlled environment. The process involves spreading bacteria across an agar plate and allowing them to incubate at a certain temperature for a period of time. Bacterial streaking can be used to identify and isolate pure bacterial colonies from a mixed population. Microbiologists use bacterial and other microbial culture streaking methods to identify microorganisms and to diagnose infection. What You Need: Culture plate with microorganismsInoculating loop or sterile toothpicksAgar platesBunsen burner or another flame producing instrumentGlovesTape Heres How: While wearing gloves, sterilize an inoculating loop by placing it at an angle over a flame. The loop should turn orange before you remove it from the flame. A sterile toothpick may be substituted for the inoculating loop. Do not place toothpicks over a flame.Remove the lid from a culture plate containing the desired microorganism.Cool the inoculating loop by stabbing it into the agar in a spot that does not contain a bacterial colony.Pick a colony and scrape off a little of the bacteria using the loop. Be sure to close the lid.Using a new agar plate, lift the lid just enough to insert the loop.Streak the loop containing the bacteria at the top end of the agar plate moving in a zig-zag horizontal pattern until 1/3 of the plate is covered.Sterilize the loop again in the flame and cool it at the edge of the agar away from the bacteria in the plate that you just streaked.Rotate the plate about 60 degrees and spread the bacteria from the end of the first streak into a second area using th e same motion in step 6. Sterilize the loop again using the procedure in step 7.Rotate the plate about 60 degrees and spread the bacteria from the end of the second streak into a new area in the same pattern.Sterilize the loop again.Replace the lid and secure with tape. Invert the plate and incubate overnight at 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit).You should see bacterial cells growing along the streaks and in isolated areas. Tips: When sterilizing the inoculating loop, make sure that the entire loop turns orange before using on the agar plates.When streaking the agar with the loop, be sure to keep the loop horizontal and only streak the surface of the agar.If using sterile toothpicks, use a new toothpick when performing each new streak. Throw all used toothpicks away. Safety: When growing bacterial colonies, you will be dealing with millions of bacteria. It is important that you follow all lab safety rules. Precautions should be taken to ensure that you dont inhale, ingest, or allow these germs to touch your skin. Bacterial plates should be kept closed and secured with tape while incubating. Any unwanted bacterial plates should be disposed of properly by placing them in an autoclave to kill the bacteria before discarding them. Household bleach may also be poured over the bacterial colonies to destroy them.

Market for Corporate Control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Market for Corporate Control - Essay Example These stations act as its most visible presence in the public domain. Shell Oil Company is in partnership with Saudi Aramco Company which is owned by the Saudi Arabian Government with each company having a 50% stake in Motiva enterprises. This is a marketing and refining venture which operates and owns three oil refineries in the Gulf Coast of USA. It also has an 80% share holding in Pecten which is an exploration company that drills many off shore areas including the oil basin in Douala in partnership with Elf Acquitaine that is owned by the French Government. In 1997, Texaco and Shell entered into two joint marketing and refining ventures. One of these ventures was known as Equilon which was a combination of their western and mid western operations. The second one combined gulf coast and eastern operations of Star Enterprise and Shell Oil which on its own was a joint business between Texaco and Saudi Aramco. In 2001 Shell bought Texaco’s shares in the joint partnership after Texaco combined with Chevron. However, in 2002 began converting this Texaco stations to stations with the brand name Shell. This process was completed in 2004 and is viewed as the biggest retail rebranding process in American history. Woodside petroleum Company Background Woodside Petroleum Limited is a company based in Australia that deals in the production and exploration of oil. It is a public organisation and is based in Perth. Woodside was built in 1954 and was originally known as Woodside Oil Co NL named after Woodside which is a small town in Victoria. In the beginning Woodside did business mostly in Gippsland Basin which is situated in Western Australia but in 1960 it switched its focus to North West Australia. It later on merged with Burmah oil and Shell to create the North West shelf group. Burmah was later on replaced with BHP and together with Shell held 40% of shares each in Woodside. However, in 1990 both Shell and BHP decided to reduce their shares down to 34%. In 19 94 BHP sold its remaining shares with each share being sold at $32. Shell decided to sell about 60% of its remaining shares to organizational investors, therefore, reducing its shares in the partnership to 24%. Woodside Petroleum Company has continued with development and exploration activities within Australia and has expanded its operations to other regions most notably the Gulf of Mexico. In Australia it is focusing on developing liquefied natural gas products in. It also manages the operations of the Vincent and Enfield oil fields which are located offshore Exmouth and Laminaria-Corallina oil fields in Northern Australia. In terms of management Peter Coleman is the current Chief Executive Officer at Woodside Petroleum Company. It is estimated that Woodside Petroleum Company is worth $27 million. Partnership of Shell Oil Company and Woodside Petroleum Company Woodside is in a partnership with Shell in the North West Shelf LNG joint operation in Western Australia. This is the bigg est resource project in Australia3. In 2001 shell attempted a takeover of Woodside Petroleum Company’s share in the partnership but its efforts were rejected by the Foreign Investment Review Board and Peter Costello who was the Australian Treasurer due to National interest. However, Shell still maintains a 34% of shares in Woodside and has conducted studies on the possibility of placing a new bid, but, Australian analysts do not expect any offer to go through because

Financial Management and Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Financial Management and Policy - Essay Example 6.0 Key Drivers of Change 13 7.0 Conclusion 13 Reference List 15 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: "Realistically, the contested takeover, the proxy contest and institutional shareholder activism may be the only means for forcing ineffective management out and getting better utilisation of corporate resources" - James C. Van Horne (2002). Moreover the ever-present threat of these things may stimulate the existing management to perform better. However no other dramatic or controversial activity can happen in the corporate history than the acquisition of one firm by another or the merger of two firms. There are different opinions and schools of thoughts concerning these important happening in the corporate world, with respect to the definitive advantages and disadvantages that may accrue both to the acquiring firm as well as the firm that is being acquired. This study paper envisages to bring out the details of one of such proposals for a well publicized acquisition deal among two corporate giants, NTL, an American based Telecom and cable services giant and ITV, one of the biggest B ritish television content producer, with specific reference to the strengths and weaknesses of both involved in the deal, the underlying reasons for NTL to take such a strategic move along with the various other factors affecting the proposed acquisition deal and the key factors responsible for such a move and of course a final...This study paper envisages to bring out the details of one of such proposals for a well publicized acquisition deal among two corporate giants, NTL, an American based Telecom and cable services giant and ITV, one of the biggest British television content producer, with specific reference to the strengths and weaknesses of both involved in the deal, the underlying reasons for NTL to take such a strategic move along with the various other factors affecting the proposed acquisition deal and the key factors responsible for such a move and of course a final dialogue on the expected reactions of the individual firms and the corporate world as such over the merger . The market for corporate control can alter dramatically the setting in which business firms compete. In an idealised world this market is a positive thing for the stockholders and the economy as a whole. Assets, people and products may be transferred to more productive uses. With rapid changing technology and product markets what was once a viable corporate strategy may no longer be so.

Julius Caesar Essay Example for Free

Julius Caesar Essay ‘’Et tu, Brutus? ’’ the accusation hurled at Brutus by the dying Julius Caesar made immortal by William Shakespeare continues to reverberate to this day. Up until his death, Brutus was convinced that it was for the good of the republic. Brutus was convinced that the death of one was better than the death of democracy. Brutus was convinced that the murder of an imminent tyrant was a selfless and necessary execution for the benefit of society. Brutus, self-appointed judge, jury, and executioner was able to win over the other Roman political and military leaders to carry out the murder of Julius Caesar; All of this in the name of selflessness, freedom and democracy. For Brutus, the end justifies the means. An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth. A return to the moral dark ages. Consider this: profiling, homeland security, retinal scans at internal airport immigration, Guantanamo high security prison. Sure, all these can perhaps be justified in terms of the aftermath and our desire not to have a recurrence of 9-11. Sure†¦ Does it also mean that we can disregard basic human rights? Does it also mean that we can now be more intolerant – and deeply suspicious – of anyone who does not look like us, worship like us, dress up like us, eat like us? Does the end really therefore justify the means? Sadly and tragically, what Brutus did was not new. He was not the first one to justify murder and claim a greater and noble purpose behind his action. Nor shall Brutus be the last â€Å"patriot’’. But we who have better sense and fortified with a sense of history can do something about preventing the emergence of Brutus and those claiming to employ â€Å"ends justified by the means† methods. Public opinion, public dissent, public debate and exposure are the best defense. The end can only be justified by justifiable means: by informed, free, democratic, transparent, and just means. And nothing less.

The United States Interaction with the International Court of Justice O

The United States Interaction with the International Court of Justice Over Consular Rights: How Our Refusal to Obey Is Impacting Foreign Nationals and American Citizens On January 9, 2003, Mexico initiated proceedings before the International Court of Justice against the United States of America concerning the alleged violations of Articles 5 and 36 of the Vienna Convention; basically, claiming that the United States is not honoring the consular rights of foreign nationals within the United States . While the proceedings of this case continue on, as they will into 2004, it is engaging and instructive to look at the realities of consular notification in the United States. I have chosen to focus on Mexican and American interactions not just because they are the two countries involved in the case before ICJ, but because the countries are so close, and because the issue arises so frequently. According to Mark Warren, director of Human Rights Research, an Ottawa, Canada-based company that monitors international developments regarding the death penalty, â€Å"there are more then 50 Mexican citizens under sentence of death in the US, many of whose cases, in fact, Mexico would argue all of them, involve violations of international law† (personal interview, 10/6/03). Through an examination of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (VCCR), American interpretation of this treaty, the role of Mexican consulates in America, and the worldwide repercussions of American actions, I hope to broadly discuss this topic and possible solutions. It is further instructive to investigate the United States interactions with the World Court in previous cases, and possible implications of sub-par consular notification with respect to the current, post-9... ...Grand Case (Germany vs. the United States). Press release June 27, 2001: The Hague International Court of Justice. Mexico brings a case against the United States of America and requests the indication of provisional measures. Press release January 10, 2003: The Hague. James, Anne, and Mark Warren. Equal Protection: Consular Assistance and Criminal JusticeProcedures in the USA. Woodbridge: The International Justice Project, 2002. Rubin, James P. United States Department of State Press Statement. 4 November 1998. Warren, Mark. â€Å"Article 36 Update: Consular Rights in America: Issue 21.† Email to Tambi Cork. 6 May 2003. Warren, Mark. Personal Interview. 6 October 2003. World View Commentary. Ed. Doug Cassel. 8 July 2003. Northwestern University School of Law. 10 November 2003

Evaluation of Social Identity Theory Essay

Social categorization is the filing of the certain type of people, which is usually expressed to individuals that are the similar to you as ‘us’ or to individuals who you see are different from what you think of yourself as ‘them’. When you observe at other people, you see the differences of how other people look and behave compared to how you usually behave and act during your daily life. Furthermore, you will categorize them as being ‘them’ as a word to describe either the significant or insignificant differences between people that are similar to you and people who are not similar to how you look or behave. For e.g. some people often think that they are ‘cool’ based on their own opinion, but when someone else is different they might be considered as being ‘uncool’. Social identity looks mainly at the individual characteristics that determine who you actually are. It is solely based on what you do that defines you socially or in public, which makes people believe that this is your identity. Social Identity is not personal identity as there is no correspondence. Personal identity basically looks at what you do personally compared to social identity, which is solely about the individual characteristics that you represent in the eye of the public. You can be socially identified to be e.g. ‘a nerd’, because of your individual characteristics that seem to define you in resemblance to a nerd, for example, being knowledgeable or smart in terms of IQ or the way you dress or look. Or that someone is gay or a lesbian, because they act unusually strange resembling of how the opposite gender usually acts. Additionally, the way they dress that is unusual in the public’s eye, so they will be easily identified as being gay or a lesbian, e.g. a man wearing tight-fit shorty shorts and long boots with a handbag or a woman with short hair  wearing a hoodie with baggie trousers and casual Nike shoes. Social comparison is the comparison between individuals due to the differences from the determination of the characteristics of one person. Our conscience is socially aware to help us be able to understand these differences so that we are able to distinguish people that are alike and people that are different. Furthermore, we tend to help people due to their individual characteristics that are similar to ours and instead we are hesitant or not willing to help someone else that are considered to be different from ‘us’. In Tajfel’s theory, it is an experiment conducted with students that are sorted into small groups. Each group produced an artwork and they were then told to rate the painting work of other groups, including their own. At the end result, one group that is pre-dominantly male-based has given their own artwork very high ratings, while the ratings of others were low. This shows the differences between self-admiration and egotistical thinking, as they are putting themselves in best priority. Positive Distinctiveness are †¦. That is recognized as being special and different to what is already common†¦