QUESTION: Can a woman go to a male doctor?

[Ismail Dalbani]

ANSWER: Among the important cases that is frequently neglected these days is for a woman to refrain from exposing herself to a doctor without an excuse.

A "check-up" (meaning she is not actually sick) is not an excuse for her to have privacy with a male doctor, nor to expose herself to him- nor to expose herself to even the female doctor. 

In treating a Muslim woman there is an order to follow. 

1. If her husband is qualified to treat her, then he is the one who can touch her and see her nakendness, and she should not go to anyone before that.

2. a female Muslim doctor; she can seek treatment from her if she needs to uncover other than her face and her hands. 

3. a non-pubescent Muslim boy who is not even close to puberty (it is possible that she might find someone knowledgeable like that who can treat her case). 

4. a non-pubescent, non-Muslim boy who is not close to puberty

5. a non-pubescent Muslim who is close to puberty.

6. a non-pubescent, non-Muslim who is close to puberty.

7. a Non-marriageable Muslim (mahram). 

8. a Non-marriageable, non-Muslim (mahram).

10. a pubescent Muslim whose penis and testicles are cut off. 

11. a female non-Muslim. 

12. a pubescent non-Muslim whose penis and testicles are cut off. 

13. a pubescent marriageable Muslim. 

14. a pubescent marriageable non-Muslim. 

This last one is the one many women go to first without checking if any of the others are available. Furthermore, when she has no choice but to go to a male doctor, she cannot be alone with him; there must be a valid third party.

[Sayfullah]

Dear readers,

It is very important to note this, as many sisters neglect to check the religious ruling.