Islamic Ethics & Medical Jurisprudence Ethical Dilemma with Limited Medical Resource during Global Pandemic & Humanitarian Aid: Who Deserve My Last Ventilator?

Abstract

The ethical dilemma of allocating limited medical resources during a global pandemic presents profound challenges, particularly in the context of humanitarian aid. Healthcare providers must make difficult decisions about who receives potentially life-saving treatment. The principle of justice, which emphasizes fairness in the distribution of resources, often clashes with the principle of utility, which seeks to maximize the benefit for the greatest number of people. Factors such as age, pre-existing health conditions, and the likelihood of survival may influence decision-making, raising concerns about discrimination and the equitable treatment of all patients. Healthcare professionals are also bound by the principle of beneficence - doing the best for their patients, and non-maleficence - avoiding harm. These principles come under immense strain when doctors are forced to choose between patients, creating moral distress. It becomes a question not only of medical criteria but also of deeply held moral and ethical values.

International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Supplementary Issue 01: 2025 Page: S24