Taking a medicine derived from pig material
31-3-2008 | IslamWeb
Question:
Bismillah Assalaam Alaikum warahamtuhlahi wabarakatuh! May Allah bless you and preserve you. It has been recently discovered that I have genetically inhereited two different types of blood clotting disorders, one is very rare. I have a blood clot in my femur and and am pregnant in my third trimester as well. The Dr. has told me that due to the severity of this health situation, I may not live past the next four months but, not that I am dying. Allah knows best of this matter. But, I have been prescribed Lovenox and need to take a 90 ml shot twice a day in my stomach. The problem is that Lovenox is made from porcine (some type of pig material). Is it halal for me to take these shots (I believe it is because of the benefit outweighing the harm)? Will this porcine material harm my unborn child in matters of its spirituality and or health? Any other suggestions for a different type of medicine?
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.
First of all, we ask Allaah to cure you from this disease, bless you with good health, and reward you on the Day of Judgment for being patient about it.
In principle, it is forbidden to seek treatment with pork because it is impure and it is forbidden; this is due to the general evidence about its prohibition. For instance, the Prophet 
said: "Indeed, Allaah has sent down the disease and the cure, and He made for every disease a cure. Therefore, seek treatment, but do not seek treatment in what is forbidden.” [Abu Daawood] However, it is permissible to seek treatment with what is forbidden in case of dire necessity. What proves this is the general evidence about the permissibility for a person to consume what is forbidden in case of dire necessity. Allaah Says (what means): {…while He has explained in detail to you what He has forbidden you, excepting that to which you are compelled.}[Quran 6:119]
The above verse and other verses are evidence about the permissibility of consuming what is forbidden when in dire necessity, provided there are no permissible medicines that can serve instead of this. In addition to this, a trustworthy doctor should inform you that this medicine is useful for that kind of disease, and that there is no other permissible alternative. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 90522.
As regards whether or not taking those shots affects the foetus, and your question about other medicines, then you should contact trustworthy doctors in this regard.
Allaah Knows best.