Notes on the article by M. C. Inhorn and G. I. Serour “Islam, medicine, and Arab-Muslim refugee health in America after 9/11” 


From this article we learn that muslims do not agree on some common global norms or best practices. Their responses to medical problems and procedures, such as assisted reproductive technologies, are mediated by a wide range of ever-changing local circumstances and social forces. (p.937) 

There is a great diversity in the world’s Muslim population. In addition to sectarian differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims, the followers of Islam vary greatly in their religious piety. Some Muslims follow particular clerics, whereas others consider their primary relationship to be with God.

“Islam is not monolithic and Islamic religious authorities are not in agreement about science, technology, and medicine—eg, for assisted reproductive technologies, huge differences have emerged in the fatwas being issued by Sunni and Shia religious clerics during the past decades.” (p.938) 

This quote shows that no matter how much we learn about Muslim religion and cultural traditions, we must stay alert to observe each particular case (be it the patient or the doctor) and try to respond to the individual necessities we are dealing with. 

The article concludes that more cultural competency training is needed in healthcare to better assist Muslim patients. I agree, and yet I would propose that cultural sensitivity may have a bigger impact on the quality of healthcare as it would provide the more sensitive caregivers, which is easier to achieve than “better educated in cultural norms”, simply because the amount of information about all cultures of the World is impossible to grasp. And even if one does learn “everything” about, say, Muslims, there will still be differences in the way one would approach each patient.