What is the ruling on seeking medical treatment and abandoning it for one whose condition is deteriorating?
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Question:
This questioner says, O Shaykh: Some cases come to the doctors. For example, when a child is born prematurely in the sixth month of pregnancy, and because many medical complications occur if the child survives, and that is after the power of Allah , then through the respiratory system, there is a medical law that states: if the child's weight is less than 750 grams, the respiratory system, which is a helper for the child to live by the grace of Allah, is not used, despite the expected complications. Is it permissible to leave the child without additional assistance that costs the patient and the doctor a lot of effort, time, and money—if money is required—given the high probability that the child will not survive, and may even be disabled later? Or should we install this device for him, along with what happens to him afterwards?
Answer:
The principle among the scholars of knowledge is that treatment is not obligatory, but rather recommended. Treating the sick is recommended, not obligatory. Therefore, whether he is treated by surgery, an operation, pills, or a diet, all of these are recommended, not obligatory. So if he refuses treatment, there is no blame on him.
If the doctors see that it is in the interest to treat this child, they do so. And if they see that the interest lies in not treating him, they leave it, and there is no blame in that. The ruling revolves around the predominant interest. If it is more likely that the treatment will benefit, there is no harm. And if it is more likely that it will not benefit, there is no harm in leaving it; because it is a waste, a lack of benefit, and a squandering of money and time.
This questioner says, O Shaykh: Some cases come to the doctors. For example, when a child is born prematurely in the sixth month of pregnancy, and because many medical complications occur if the child survives, and that is after the power of Allah , then through the respiratory system, there is a medical law that states: if the child's weight is less than 750 grams, the respiratory system, which is a helper for the child to live by the grace of Allah, is not used, despite the expected complications. Is it permissible to leave the child without additional assistance that costs the patient and the doctor a lot of effort, time, and money—if money is required—given the high probability that the child will not survive, and may even be disabled later? Or should we install this device for him, along with what happens to him afterwards?
Answer:
The principle among the scholars of knowledge is that treatment is not obligatory, but rather recommended. Treating the sick is recommended, not obligatory. Therefore, whether he is treated by surgery, an operation, pills, or a diet, all of these are recommended, not obligatory. So if he refuses treatment, there is no blame on him.
If the doctors see that it is in the interest to treat this child, they do so. And if they see that the interest lies in not treating him, they leave it, and there is no blame in that. The ruling revolves around the predominant interest. If it is more likely that the treatment will benefit, there is no harm. And if it is more likely that it will not benefit, there is no harm in leaving it; because it is a waste, a lack of benefit, and a squandering of money and time.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.