The British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) is an umbrella body aiming to unite Muslim healthcare professionals. Our role as BIMA is to ensure differences of opinions from jurists are respected; to inform scholars & the Muslim community on the importance of herd immunity, and vaccine efficacy, as well as the risks of illnesses like influenza and benefits of vaccination. Influenza …
Letter to RCGP Annual Conference 2019
Dear Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, I hope this message finds you well. As the President of the British Islamic Medical Association, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for reviewing your invite to Julia Hartley-Brewer to speak at the RCGP Annual Conference. Like many others, we were concerned at her initial invitation as she has a long history …
Response by BIMA to the GMC statement regarding a complaint involving a GP and patient wearing a face veil
We, the British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA), would like to thank the General Medical Council (GMC) for their balanced and reasonable response to the recent highly publicised complaint involving Dr Keith Wolverson and an unnamed member of the British public who wears a niqab (face veil) [1]. We hope that this incident is handled in a way that protects the …
An overview of Islamic legal and bioethical considerations regarding termination of pregnancy
A submission to the NICE call for evidence regarding termination of pregnancy guidelines currently under review Guideline Scope Draft Guideline The UK is currently home to at least 3.4 million Muslims [1] who, to varying degrees, will refer to Islamic jurisprudential and ethical teachings to inform/guide their healthcare decisions, including that of termination of pregnancy (TOP). It is therefore pertinent …
Ramadan Mubarak
“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.” (2:183) Ramadan is upon us and what a delightful guest it is. A holy month in which Allah offers us the biggest opportunity for redemption. It is imperative we make the most of this chance. Fasting is …
BIMA statement on the Government’s proposed “opt-out” system for organ donation after death in the United Kingdom
Opinions within the Muslim community There are a range of opinions present within the Muslim community as to the permissibility of organ donation after death. While there is evidence that a majority of Islamic scholars and Muslim health care professionals are proponents for it (with varying conditions needing to be satisfied), there is unfortunately relatively little clear evidence on …
March News & Views
Firstly this month, a study in the American Journal of Infection Control looked at vaccine compliance and parents’ stance on childhood vaccination. The study found that 85% of the Muslim parents surveyed support vaccination and were significantly more likely to be pro-vaccination than other parents from different religious affiliations. While the sample size was small for this study, it would be …
Statement on Dr Rogozov and blog post comments
Whilst all details on the incident, which occurred in 2013 and investigations are still ongoing, are unclear, the British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) is deeply concerned about some of the comments made in the blog, and the subsequent reporting on the place of Muslim attire in theatres. Patient safety is at the heart of NHS care provision. Muslim healthcare professionals …
Statement: Response to BMJ’s ‘Doctors and Islamic State’
Letter to BMJ Editor-in-Chief The British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) is shocked by the decision of the BMJ Editorial Team to publish the two articles in Duncan Gardham’s work “Doctors and Islamic State”. Gardham focusses on a handful of individuals and attempts to depict British Muslim medical students and physicians as subverters of professional standards and state security, and calls …
Statement on 2014 Gaza Attacks
The British Islamic Medical Association [1] condemns the attacks on medical facilities and personnel in the Gaza strip. We deplore the killing of patients and staff, and the targeting of ambulances on duty [2]. We urge the British medical community to join us in solidarity. Innocent civilians in Palestine are bearing the brunt of Israeli aggression with loss of life, …
