FatwaSelangorMedicine & Health
Hukum Eutanasia Mercy Killing
What is the ruling on euthanasia or mercy killing in Islam?
Short answer
Euthanasia or mercy killing is prohibited, because hastening death by stopping treatment or giving an excessive dose of medication amounts to killing.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Selangor State Mufti Department
- Status
- Gazetted
- Series
- Keputusan Fatwa Diwartakan
- Topic
- Medicine & Health
Gazette evidence in the source: Sel. P.U. 145
Summary
Euthanasia or mercy killing is prohibited, because hastening death by stopping treatment or giving an excessive dose of medication amounts to killing. A doctor's duty is to help patients with good, and assisting death is not part of that. As an exception, brain death is regarded as death, so life support such as a ventilator may be stopped with the consent of the nearest heirs after two Muslim medical specialists, not involved in organ donation, confirm it.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Haram melaksanakan Eutanasia atau Mercy Killing kerana berusaha mempercepatkan kematian dengan memberhentikan rawatan atau mengambil ubat-ubatan pada dos yang berlebihan untuk menghentikan hayat adalah perbuatan membunuh.
Read the full fatwa on the Selangor website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Selangor State Mufti Department. “Hukum Eutanasia Mercy Killing”, date not stated. https://www.muftiselangor.gov.my/2023/10/28/hukum-eutanasia-mercy-killing/. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-on-euthanasia-mercy-killing-islam/