“Should I Be Continued Breathing?”: Management of Life Limiting Condition from Islamic Ethical Perspective

Abstract

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is one of the most recognised life-limiting conditions in paediatric palliative care. Despite the advancement of medical technology, many children with severe SMA die early. Often, managing physicians are trapped in dilemma whether to go all-out treating these patients or to be more conservative using palliative approach, knowing our limited resources and the futility of the treatment outcome. This article discusses the challenging aspect of managing these patients by using Islamic medical ethics to resolve this dilemma.