Sharia compliant injection?
May 31, 2009 at 5:27 pm 16 comments
I went to a doctor the other day, and was in the process of rolling up my sleeves so that he could give me the injection that I needed, but before I could do that, he took the syringe and injected the medicine into my arm through the sleeve and said “Sharia compliant injection” and smiled. I don’t know if he was serious or kidding.
Regardless, I looked at him in shock, as did the friend who was with me. Was he serious, I wondered? Did he think that touching my bare arm was against the Sharia? And did he see nothing wrong with giving me an injection through the sleeve – what about the possibility of infection, dirt etc? I am still in a state of shock and confusion over this.
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In the Line of Wire 
1. Sharia compliant injection? / LiveFromPakistan | May 31, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Sharia compliant injection?…
I went to a doctor the other day, and was in the process of r …
2. Sharia compliant injection? | Tea Break | May 31, 2009 at 6:21 pm
[…] This cup of tea was served by: In the Line of Wire […]
3.
The Jaywalker | May 31, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Interesting! 🙂
Yes, he could be serious. The other reason could be “other patients insisting on such a method.”
4.
ZeeShan Ahmed | May 31, 2009 at 7:47 pm
haha … what’s next … doctors treating patients with their eyes closed???
It is more common than you can imagine … I have seen people not go into meetings because there is a female in the room … ‘Sharia compliant’ meetings. :-]
5.
bigtugboat | May 31, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Or may be by saying “Sharia compliant injection”, he was just trying to convey the medicine in that injection did not contain alcohol or any other stuff that’s not permitted in Shariah.
6.
jingoist | May 31, 2009 at 8:09 pm
that is quite strange…
which hospital was tht btw ?
7.
Sajjad | May 31, 2009 at 9:36 pm
That’s terrible. Since when did it become haram for doctors to properly treat patients of the opposite sex? He should be charged with malpractice.
The seeds of Talibanization are everywhere, not just in Swat or Bajaur. It’s about time we accepted the truth and dealt with the issue.
8.
Atif | May 31, 2009 at 10:12 pm
I think you are over reacting.
Not that I am any sort of medical professional but a google search of “injecting through clothing” may help here.
9.
Mubashar | June 1, 2009 at 3:03 am
@Atif
>> I think you are over reacting.
I donno what googling for “injecting through clothing” might reveal… this blog post got started not due to what the doc did, but due to what he said…
after having given Jehan the injection, he could have said… “ummm… i’m in a hurry”…. no no no sir… he said… “shariah compliant injection” … hahahahahahaha
10.
offshorewebdesigner | June 1, 2009 at 9:49 am
If the doctor did this and it doesnot violate any medical laws or precautions, then theres perfectly no problem with it, infact it should be adapted due to convenience. Being sharia compliant is not bad if ones a muslim n lives in muslim society. However, if its really compromising the standards of health care, then he shouldnt have done it. Better stop making fun … for muslims sharia is not a joke … period
11.
Vic | June 1, 2009 at 9:50 am
@mubashar: you are doubtless right.
Or, he could have said, “I’m in a hurriyat – got the point?”
12.
Jehan | June 1, 2009 at 10:34 am
@offshorewebdesigner this post was not meant to make fun of the sharia but in reaction to my shock at having been given an injection through cloth. My concern was the hygiene aspect of the exercise. However, I must admit that when the doctor said it was “sharia compliant” that seemed to me to be an extremity. I am a Muslim but that does not mean that i should wear that on my sleeve. My religion is personal to me and there is no reason for me to push it in everyone’s face every chance I get. That is why we are referred to as extremists. If we practised our religion instead of just talking about it and making everything an issue, it would make us better people in the eyes of God. Instead we pay more attention to “showing” that we are religious and do not practise honesty, cleanliness, respect for others, compassion, humility, etc.
@Atif maybe I was over-reacting to the injection through the sleeve. I have googled and seen that diabetics do this quite often and there are no harmful effects. Perhaps if he hadn’t said it was sharia compliant I would have asked him about the hygienic aspect of it.
@bigtugboat no he did not mean that it contained no alcohol because when I expressed surprise at it being injected through the sleeve, that is when he said it was sharia compliant.
Just to clarify for everyone, I don’t like strangers touching my arms but when I go to a doctor, I perceive him as a professional and I expect him to perceive me as a patient. So if he has to check my pulse, my BP or look into my eyes or throat, that is entirely kosher. And if he has to give me an injection and that involves holding my arm, I have no problems with that. Now some women may have an issue and would prefer to go to a female doctor. That is fine too. It is a personal preference.
13.
farhan | June 1, 2009 at 11:07 am
Utter nonsensical behavior by the doctor. When it comes to the practise of medcine, sharia should be kept aside. I think you should avoid going to that doctor again and communicate this matter to the hospital authorities.
14.
Zakintosh | June 1, 2009 at 8:00 pm
@Jehan: “I am a Muslim but that does not mean that I should wear that on my sleeve.”
Maybe he thought you were wearing it on your sleeve and didn’t want you to roll it up.
15.
farhan | June 2, 2009 at 6:53 pm
By the way, I was wondering how he managed to give you the shot without the blood ruining your clothing. Did he put a cotton swab under your sleeve or something?
16.
Talha | June 19, 2009 at 2:20 pm
i think it’s safe thru the clothing too 🙂
see http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/20/3/244.abstract
and http://www.healthcentral.com/diabetes/c/110/15837/injecting-clothing/