Bioethics and the Principle of Good Deed from a Shia Perspective

The present paper explores the merit of good deed (amr -e kheir) in thecontexts of donation and charity from the perspective of Shia jurisprudence(fiqh ) and ethics (akhlāq) and reiterates its importance in the field ofbioethical issues and practice, particularly with regard to the use of humanbodily materials and reproductive donation. The rapid developments that haveoccurred in medical sciences and biotechnologies not only have brought greataccomplishments in healthcare and treatment; they have also brought forthchallenges and different moral contradictions that have stirred controversies inbioethics. One of the main ethical challenges focuses on the commodificationof body’s parts and persons. This paper tries to offer a Shia theologicalperspective to tackle these ethical challenges by drawing on concepts such asojrat ( remuneration ), nazr ( offering ) and savab ( reward ), andemphasizing the importance of the charitable act itself. From a theoreticalpoint of view, this paper has made an attempt to contribute to the globalbioethical discourse by providing some moral principles of the Shiajurisprudence and ethics

Keywords:

Bioethics , good deed , Shia jurisprudence , ethics