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The question

Is the nurse considered responsible for the death of a patient in the intensive care unit if they made a wrong medical decision alone due to the absence of the doctor and time constraints?

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Source: FtawySummarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported Sep 2, 20261 min readAlso available in العربية
The answer

Whoever practices medicine without sufficient knowledge or expertise, and their action results in the patient's death, is liable. A nurse does not have the authority to make medical decisions that are the prerogative of a physician. If a nurse does so and it leads to the patient's death, they are liable, even if their intention was good, based on the saying of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: "Whoever practices medicine, while not known to possess medical knowledge, is liable." However, if the specialist physician testifies that the decision was correct and that the death occurred due to another cause, then the nurse is not liable. Saving a patient is an obligation, but a nurse should not make a decision whose consequences they do not know.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported

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Source platform
Ftawy
Original fatwa ID
169912
Imported
Translation status
Source text, unreviewed
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