Abstract

Termination of pregnancy is a debated and disputed topic in almost all major religions of the world. In Pakistan, the topic is disputed because Islam is the major religion and most of the population residing in Pakistan is Muslim. This article highlights the case of a 22 year old woman, 24 weeks pregnant, admitted for termination of pregnancy because of fetal anomaly. The father was against the decision of termination of pregnancy and his verdict was grounded on the fatwa by religious expert mentioning that pregnancy should be continued regardless of the outcome with reference to the Quranic Verse in Sura Nisa. These types of clinical situations are very prevalent in hospitals of a developing country like Pakistan and illustrate a conflict between religious and moral values and beliefs. Autonomy of vulnerable groups and decision-making capacity is controversial even if the decision is being made by weighing benefits verses risks associated with a particular treatment modality. The power deferential and autonomy of women over their life and body living in a developing country in diverse perspective can also be perceived in such cases. The paper addresses sensitive issues that raise questions about the impact of religious rulings on ethical/medical decision making.