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Islamic Bioethical Deliberation on the Issue of Newborns with Disorders of Sex Development

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Abstract

This article presents the Islamic bioethical deliberation on the issue of sex assignment surgery (SAS) for infants with disorders of sex development (DSD) or intersexed as a case study. The main objective of this study is to present a different approach in assessing a biomedical issue within the medium of the Maqasid al-Shari’ah. Within the framework of the maqasidic scheme of benefits and harms, any practice where benefits are substantial is considered permissible, while those promoting harms are prohibited. The concept of Maqasid al-Shari’ah which is the mechanistic interpretation of Qur’an and Hadith presents the holistic attention of Islam on many life activities, including healthcare. Indeed, this concept encompasses many aspects of worldly life, both for the human individual and collectively for the whole society. In healthcare, the practice of SAS on DSD newborns has presented an assortment of implications on the future livelihood of the affected individual. The process of decision-making seems to be very multifaceted since every element such as the determination of the ‘correct’ sex and the urgency of early surgery must consider the benefits and harms, as well as the child’s rights and best interest. The application of the concept of Maqasid al-Shari’ah, would convey a pragmatic approach that is often disregarded in Western medicine. This approach considers the right of the individual to live life optimally, individually and socially and practice his faith, precisely, in accordance with the assigned gender.

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Notes

  1. For clarity, AIS is substituted for TFS (Testicular Feminisation Syndrome) which is basically the same condition for the intersexed considered in the fatwa.

  2. Personal communication with Officer in Islamic Affairs, Selangor Mufti Department, Malaysia about the issue of gender ambiguity dated October 14th, 2008.

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  1. Department of Science and Technology Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Mohd Salim Mohamed & Siti Nurani Mohd Noor

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  1. Mohd Salim Mohamed
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  2. Siti Nurani Mohd Noor
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Correspondence to Mohd Salim Mohamed.

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Mohamed, M.S., Noor, S.N.M. Islamic Bioethical Deliberation on the Issue of Newborns with Disorders of Sex Development. Sci Eng Ethics 21, 429–440 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-014-9534-z

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