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Abstract: This paper discusses a legal-moral conflict that exists in the medical field which pertains to the duties of medical practitioners toward their patients. More specifically, it deliberates on paradoxical situations where medical practitioners are "legally permitted" to refuse rendering their services to the needy due to the principles entrenched in the law of negligence. This legal conundrum has created a moral 'neglect' on the part of the medical practitioners toward their patients who are in dire need of medical treatment. Hence, this paper argues that the concepts inherent in the Good Samaritan laws should be imposed on medical practitioners in Malaysia, particularly, since neglecting patients who urgently require medical attention transgresses the Islamic principle of helping ones neighbours and the needy, contravenes the Hippocratic Oath and infringes the conscience of a morally upright individual.
Keywords: Good Samaritan laws, medical practitioners, law of negligence, Hippocratic Oath, Islamic principles
Abstrak: Kajian ini membincangkan terhadap konflik undang-undang/ moral yang terdapat dalam bidang perubatan yang mana pengamal-pengamal perubatan berperanan untuk melakukan sesuatu terhadap pesakit-pesakit mereka. Secara khususnya, ia membincangkan secara mendalam keadaan paradox yang mana pengamal-pengamal perubatan dibenarkan secara undangundang untuk menolak bagi memberikan khidmat kepada mereka yang memerlukan, berdasarkan prinsip-prinsip yang mantap dalam undang-undang kecuaian. Rundingan undang-undang ini telah mewujudkan isu 'pengabaian' moral pada pihak pengamal-peramal perubatan terhadap pesakit mereka yang amat memerlukan rawatan perubatan mereka. Oleh itu, kertas kerja ini membincangkan konsep-konsep yang termaktub dalam Undang-undang Samaria yang sepatutnya ditekankan terhadap pengamal-pengamal perubatan terutamanya di Malaysia. Ini adalah kerana mengabaikan pesakit yang memerlukan rawatan perubatan dengan sengaja melanggar prinsip Islam untuk membantu jiran serta mereka yang memerlukan. Hal ini juga turut melanggar Angkat Sumpah Hippocratik serta turut juga menyinggung perasaan dan hati nurani individu yang tinggi moralnya.
Kata Kunci: Undang-undang Samaria yang baik, pengamal perubatan, undang-undang kecuaian, Angkat Sumpah Hippocratik.
Introduction
The medical profession is undoubtedly one of the most revered professional fi elds. Its prominence is very much related to its vocation which is mainly to assist those in need and to preserve life. According to Wikipedia, most medical practitioners are bound by the Hippocratic Oath which among others states that:
I will use treatment to help the sick according to my ability and judgment, but never with a view to injury and wrongdoing.....