Male doctors treating females
1-11-2004 | IslamWeb
Question:
I have a question regarding some Muslim doctors and their medical specializations. I have read the rulings of Shaykh Bin Baz and other scholars regarding male doctors treating female patients and vice versa and Al-Hamdu Lillaah, I have understood these rulings. However, my question is regarding those Muslim male doctors who knowingly and intentionally choose a medical specialization that predominately, if not completely, involves the treatment of female patients. For example, a Muslim male doctor who chooses to be a obstetrician or gynecologist. These are specializations that not only entirely deal with the treatment of females but also involve looking at and touching the most private parts of the female body. Is this a permissible profession for a Muslim man? Can we expect the man who has chosen this specialization to fear Allaah while inserting his fingers into the vagina of our wives/daughters, etc.? Is this not a type of fornication (Zina)? I would very much like to find an excuse for our Muslim brothers who have chosen this profession but I really find it hard to do so. Am I wrong in this? Of all the various specializations available to doctors, how could any God-fearing man intentionally chose this type of work? I think we cannot expect that he has been forced into it or has been requested by the Muslim authorities to specialize in this field. No, it seems to me that this is in fact a sick man who himself is in need of a doctor. Please correct me if I am wrong. Pardon me if my language seems a bit harsh but recently my wife visited the hospital for a pregnancy related problem. We insisted that she only be examined by a female doctor. The Muslim male doctor who was present at the time became angry and said that he had been doing this job for over 20 years and had no intention other than medically examining my wife. When we continued to refuse he said she'd have to wait until the next day for a woman. Since her case was not an emergency we waited. I feel that we have done the right thing. Finally, what about the man who allows his wife, daughter, etc. to be examined by these men when there are competent female doctors available? Are they not committing a great sin? Is this person not the ÇáÏíæË deyuth that has been referred to in Hadith? It seems to me that this is something taken far too lightly among the Muslims these days. Or am I wrong? I just add the following for your information: An obstetrician is a physician who has successfully completed specialized education and training in the management of pregnancy, labor, and pauperism (the time-period directly following childbirth). A gynecologist is a physician who has a successfully completed specialized education and training in the health of the female reproductive system, including the diagnosis and treatment of disorders and diseases .
Typically, the education and training for both fields occurs concurrently. Thus, an obstetrician/gynecologist is a physician specialist who provides medical and surgical care to women and has particular expertise in pregnancy, childbirth, and disorders of the reproductive system. This includes preventative care, prenatal care, detection of sexually transmitted diseases, Pap test screening, and family planning.
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 is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
In principle it is a woman doctor who should treat a woman. The Muslim jurists even stated that a non-Muslim female doctor is in priority in treating a Muslim woman than a Muslim male doctor. So if this is the case in general specialities, then it is more appropriate in gynaecology as this requires seeing the private parts of women. Therefore, it is not permissible in principle for a Muslim male doctor to specialize in gynaecology since there are female doctors who can specialize in this field. The Muslim ruler has to provide enough women who are specialized in this field to cater for the needs of Muslims, and he should not allow men to specialize in this field except for a necessity. Indeed you did well by refusing to let a male doctor check your wife and insisting to be checked by a female doctor but you are wrong in giving a general ruling that whoever does this is psychologically sick, as it is not necessarily the case. In principle a Muslim is innocent until the contrary is proven. Describing that touching a woman's vagina is an act of adultery, if you mean it is a metaphor, then yes, this is what the Prophet 
said: "The adultery of the hand is touching." [Muslim], but if you mean the adultery that requires punishment, then that is not correct. But for a husband to agree to a male doctor to check his wife while there is a female doctor who can do so, then this is a sin, and an act of procurement (pandering).
Allaah knows best.