Can a Female Doctor Treat Male Patients in Islam? A Guide to Medical Ethics

Islamic Perspective on Female Doctors Treating Male Patients: Guidelines and Exceptions

Question: A doctor who is an acupuncturist, can she treat male patients? The treatment involves checking the pulse by holding the wrist, touching points from the wrist to the elbow, and from the ankles to the feet. Can such a treatment be performed by a lady doctor for a male patient?

Answer: A woman can only treat a non-mahram (unrelated) man if there is no male doctor available. If a male doctor is available, the lady doctor should advise the male patient to consult the male doctor. This is because when a woman treats a man, it usually involves touching and checking him, and often there is seclusion in the doctor’s chamber, which is not permissible. Therefore, a woman should treat only female patients. However, in emergency situations where no male doctor is available or immediate treatment is required to prevent harm, a lady doctor can treat a male patient.

 Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi حفظه الله

❪Jeddah Dawah Center, Hayy Al-Salamah – Saudi Arabia❫