Islamic concepts in ethics of pediatric clinical research

Background: Medical research on children has increased in the last 20 years. International ethical regulations for conducting clinical research on children may not pertain to Muslim communities where religious beliefs play a big role in decision-making process. Methods: The aim of this paper was to illustrate the origins of bioethics principles in Islam, to appraise the existing regulations of Islamic countries, and to systematically review areas of improvements. Conclusion: This review recommends a customized approach for regulators to set culturally adapted ethical guidelines that highlight Islamic traditions in dealing with children of different ages.