The components of ethical decision making in Nahj al-Balagha

Ethical decision making is an important issue in medical professional ethics. Recent advances in medical sciences and development of new ethical issues in medical ethics have added to the importance and specific complexities of this issue. In fact، ethical decision making is a manifestation of moral values in practical work. In this study، the ethical decision making process in medical ethics has been reviewed in Amir al-Mu''minin Ali (A. S.) ’s views in Nahj al-Balagha. Therefore، the issue of ethical decision making in various scientific articles and resources were studied and examples of ethical decision making، its components and its determinants in Nahj al-Balagha were analyzed. In Ali (A. S.) ’s word، the ethical decision-making components include knowledge and insight، trust، counseling، adherence to moral values، objectivity، commitment to justice، responsibility، privacy، confidentiality، obedience to law، monotheistic belief and human dignity. In Nahj al-Balagha، the barriers to ethical decision making include: the inability to predict and evaluate the probable consequences، hastiness، being overcome by feelings and financial incentives. In conclusion، according to Ali (A. S.) ’s views، physicians’ decisions can be ethical when they perceive their profession not as a means of financial gain، but rather as a moral responsibility، and consider both human and divine rights in their professional practice.