Irfan Bilal, Tarab Basel
Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, USA.
Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.
Cureus. 2025 Jun 16;17(6):e86162. doi: 10.7759/cureus.86162. eCollection 2025 Jun.
Contemporary statutes typically define adulthood at 18, yet Islamic tradition considers puberty and intellectual discernment as markers of maturity. This discrepancy creates significant ethical and legal dilemmas for adolescent healthcare autonomy, particularly in Muslim contexts. Classical Islamic jurisprudence emphasizes cognitive maturity alongside physical development, aligning with modern secular concepts like the mature minor doctrine. Nevertheless, tensions arise when adolescents deemed religiously mature must navigate healthcare decisions restricted by civil statutes. This editorial advocates for integrating Islamic ethical frameworks with contemporary capacity-oriented policies, suggesting joint jurist-physician assessments as a practical reconciliation. There are proposals sketched for clear, capacity-oriented guidelines that respect both civil mandates and religious values. Interdisciplinary guidelines can harmonize religious recognition of adolescent autonomy with protective civil mandates, ultimately respecting adolescents' evolving capacities and healthcare rights.
当代法规通常将成年定义为18岁，但伊斯兰传统将青春期和智力辨别力视为成熟的标志。这种差异给青少年医疗自主权带来了重大的伦理和法律困境，尤其是在穆斯林背景下。古典伊斯兰法学在强调身体发育的同时，也注重认知成熟，这与现代世俗概念如成熟未成年人原则相一致。然而，当被认为在宗教上成熟的青少年必须应对受民事法规限制的医疗决策时，矛盾就出现了。这篇社论主张将伊斯兰伦理框架与当代以行为能力为导向的政策相结合，建议法学家和医生联合评估作为一种切实可行的调和方式。文中勾勒了一些清晰的、以行为能力为导向的指导方针提案，这些方针既尊重民事规定，也尊重宗教价值观。跨学科指导方针可以协调宗教对青少年自主权的认可与保护性民事规定，最终尊重青少年不断发展的行为能力和医疗权利。
