A critical analysis of Principilism through a Shari'ah-based medical ethics paradigm in a South African Context

Abstract

This study addresses a gap in the literature on Islamic medical ethics in South Africa, where there is a significant Muslim minority population. While the classical framework of principlism (beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and autonomy) is widely used, the current approach to Islamic legal verdicts in South Africa is often reactive and lacks standardization. Using secondary data, this research critically analyzes the compatibility of principlism with Shari'ah-based medical ethics and evaluates whether the latter can serve as a viable alternative for Muslim healthcare professionals. The analysis reveals that although principlism and Shari'ah-based ethics share some concerns, they differ in their foundational sources and moral priorities. The study concludes that principlism is only partially compatible with Islamic ethics and requires contextual adaptation. It argues that a systematically articulated and institutionally supported Shari'ah-based ethical paradigm can be a coherent alternative for Muslim practitioners in South Africa. This approach would help them balance their professional commitments to secular bioethics with their need to maintain Islamic moral integrity, ultimately enriching ethical deliberation and fostering culturally and religiously competent care.