Ministry of Awqaf says mercy killing is not permissible: MoH
Awqaf to collaborate with SRS to set up ‘Dinner Bank’
KUWAIT CITY, Dec 24: Health Minister Sheikh Dr Basel AlSabah said the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has issued a fatwa on Mercy Death (euthanasia) saying it is not permissible, while stressing that the draft law amending Decree Law No. 25 of 1981 talks of medical responsibility, reports Al-Jarida daily.
Meanwhile, the senior health official in response to a query submitted by MP Adel Al-Damkhi said the draft law includes health insurance for doctors against the dangers of the profession and about cases of pregnancy outside marriage, adding that there is a joint committee comprising members from the ministries of Social Affairs and Labor and Interior to discuss and deal with this issue.
He added that the Ministry of Health has proposed a draft amendment to Law No. 25 of 1981 on the practice of human medicine, dentistry and invited the concerned bodies to participate in the discussions on the amendments.
In the meantime, he stressed the Kuwait Medical Association participated in the work of the committees formed by the Health Ministry to study the amendment of the said law, and was also among the institutions that drafted the law submitted by Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS).
Furthermore, Namaa Zakat and Social Development Establishment affiliated to Social Reform Society (SRS), recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Kuwait Awqaf Public Foundation to execute the “Dinner Bank”. The agreement signing ceremony was attended by chairman of the society Dr Khalid Al-Mathkour, board chairman of Namaa Establishment Hassan Al-Hunaidi, and Human Resources and Social Development Manager at Namaa Establishment Musa’ed Al-Rakhis, while Awqaf Foundation was represented by the Assistant Secretary General for Endowment Banks Mansour Khalid Al-Saq’abi.
According to Al-Rakhis, the Dinner Bank is aimed at helping the needy and poor families in Kuwait to face their burdens and life responsibilities, hoping the distribution of coupons to families will alleviate their poverty level. A total of KD 200,000 has been set aside to assist 5,210 families, which include 494 families of orphans, 256 widows, 268 divorcees, 82 old people, 32 abandoned families, 30 families of inmates, 136 families of sick people, 57 people with special needs, 337 jobless people, and 3,518 low income earners.