M.L. taught me that his religious practice could provide clarity of mind, as well as acceptance of illness. His use of alternative medicine, with its holistic approach, reinforced the ways in which directing one’s own care supports relationships, helps patients connect with higher goals, and helps maintain independence and dignity, especially when associated with a spiritual community or practi...

When a Jehovah's Witness patient rejects transfusion because of his religious doctrine, the anesthesiologist is required to make an important decision. Each doctor must approach his patient respecting the patient's wishes as much as possible, while still taking into account his own ethical criteria, moral judgement of the patient, and knowledge of medicine. This writer briefly examined the basi...

one of the requisites for proper understanding of the legal statutes (nuṣūṣ) is that the legislator and the jurist, along with other wise people in various scenes of life, should enjoy collective wisdom and, besides having their own personal viewpoints, they should possess general consciousness and mental background; as this collective consciousness can have a significant role in proper underst...