Kingdom University proudly announced that Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Lutfi, an Associate Professor of Law, won this year’s ‘Rashid Bin Humaid Award for Culture and Sciences’ in the United Arab Emirate, for the second year in a row.
The award winning research titled “Medical Research on Humans, on the Need for Medical Advancement and the Sanctity of the Human Body – a Contemporary Medical Jurisprudence Approach” discussed the subject of Body Donation for medical research, which has been one of the most debatable topics over the past few decades.
In his research, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Lutfi concludes on a number of results that stress on the importance of freedom in medical research and innovation, as it allows for the discovery and development of treatments for all incurable diseases. He goes on to state that medical experimenting on deceased bodies should be made legally permissible, if approval is given by the individual in question before their death or by their family when needed. However, he also emphasizes that it is acceptable to conduct experiments on live bodies under the presence of a number of restrictions and limitations that guarantee the achievement of the purpose. Dr. Ahmed highlights in his research that experiments should be based on scientific evidence, and that the medical team should be scientifically competent as well, and maintain the confidentiality of all information related to the subject being experimented on, unless substantial reasons are brought forward that require any disclosure of such data.
As for the recommendations, the most notable was the need to organize the topic of medical research with specific regulations that guarantee achieving the balance needed between the freedom of medical research, advantages to society, and the sanctity of the human body.
Likewise, it is important to form a committee of the most skilled doctors who are known for their efficiency and scientific integrity to decide on the procedures prior to medical experimentation. These experiments should be solely done in government hospitals in order to prevent wrongful manipulation of any kind of the human body. Furthermore, the subject’s approval should be officially documented by the Ministry of Health.
Speaking on the occasion, Kingdom University’s President, Professor Yusuf AbdulGhaffar congratulated Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Lutfi for winning the Rashid Bin Humaid Award for Culture and Sciences for the second consecutive year, and expressed his pride that Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Lutfi is an integral part of Kingdom University’s academic family. He went on to say that Dr. Ahmed’s accomplishment has gone a long way in establishing Kingdom University’s name and repute in the global education and medical sectors whilst consequently consolidating the Kingdom of Bahrain position in the international limelight. Dr. Yusuf AbdulGhaffar stressed on the importance of the pursuit of scientific research throughout the academic careers of all faculty members, which firmly stands in line with the philosophy that Kingdom University has long embodied in order to enrich its academic journey and provide an atmosphere that promotes excellence and success in all educational endeavors.
From his side, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Lutfi, Associate Professor of Law at Kingdom University said: “To begin with, I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to Professor Dr. Yusuf AbdulGhaffar, President of Kingdom University, for consistently nurturing all academic talent, and to my colleagues for their continuous support and encouragement. The importance of this study titled, “Medical Research on Humans, on the Need for Medical Advancement and the Sanctity of the Human Body – a Contemporary Medical Jurisprudence Approach” lies in that it settles the debate on medical research on the human body, and with the Grace of the Almighty, I was able to find a balance between the need for medical advancement and the preservation of the life and interest of an individual, in that any procedure done on a person’s body will not lead to any defect to any of the body’s vital functions.”
This award comes on the heels of Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Lutfi’s receipt of the prestigious honour last year as well, with the subject of that research being on ‘Sharia’s View on Brain Death and its Impact on Organ Transplant Operations – A Comparative Jurisprudence Medical Study’.
The Rashid Bin Humaid Award for Culture and Sciences was established in 1983 under the patronage of Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, member of the UAE Supreme Council of the Union and the ruler of the Emirate of Ajman. The criteria for eligibility to win the award is divided into two levels, each with its own focus; the first level allows high school and university students to participate in the contest by submitting a short story, a poem, or a cultural research, while the second level welcomes university graduates and above to present studies in relation to literary creativity, humanities, as well as scientific, social and educational researches.
After 25 years since its establishment, Rashid Bin Humaid Award for Culture and Sciences gives individuals from the GCC countries the chance of participating, as the purpose of the contest is to emphasize on the concept of continual learning, as knowledge and innovation are unlimited and are not limited to a specific group, as well as to encourage everyone to be active learners.
Kingdom University is one of the first private educational institutions in the Kingdom of Bahrain, offering unique educational experience designed to prepare students to engage in community-building and meet the challenges of career life. With experience earned for more than a decade, Kingdom University offers a range of undergraduate programs administered by some of the best professional lecturers, as well as diverse and distinct programs including Bachelor studies, some of which some are accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). The University seeks to develop accomplished and proficient individuals who immensely contribute to their country, in its consistent drive towards excellence, innovation and an all-encompassing nature in its offerings.