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Fatwa CenterDoctor's suspicion that his/her actions led to death of patient
Question
Assalaamu alaykum. I am a junior doctor. A week before, a very depressing mishap occured. There was a patient who, without a doubt, was in a very critical situation. I took care of him but forgot to give him the last stage treatment at night. I also made some mistake due to a lack of knowledge. I was supposed to give him dopamine and noradrenaline but did not do that. The patient passed away the next morning, which was the seventh day after admission. Ever since, I have been very depressed. My sister is of the view that he was so critical that putting him on the ventilator would not have helped, but I am still very depressed. I have some issues regarding learning; I take a very long time to learn things and have problems concentrating as well. Did I commit a sin? Please help.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Scholars underlined that non-liability is the basic principle; the person is not liable for anything unless it is proven with certainty or prevalent likelihood that he is responsible for it. Al-Juwayni 
said, "Non-liability (i.e. freedom from obligations and liability) is the basic principle in all matters that are doubted. This applies to the rights of individuals pertaining to properties: transactions and the private and public rights." [Ghiyaath Al-Umam]
It is feared that what you mentioned is a sort of unnecessarily overburdening yourself because you suffer from Waswaas (obsessive satanic whisperings).
Generally speaking, there is no way to know whether you caused the patient's death or not except by consulting skillful specialists. They are the ones who can decide the cause of death and whether you were responsible for it or not.
Since it was not proven that you are responsible for this death, you should act upon the basic principle; you are not liable for anything, and you are not held responsible for anything.
It should be noted that the person bears no sin for the actions done out of mistake or forgetfulness. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means) about the supplications of the believers: {Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred.} [Quran 2:286] The relevant hadeeth says that Allaah answers their supplication: "He (Allaah) said, 'I indeed did.'" [Muslim] However, the person may be still liable for compensation.
We have previously underlined the doctor's liability for medical mistakes in fatwa 87930.
Allaah knows best.
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