Assalamu alaikum.I’m working in a govt. hospital as well as practicing medicine here & now specializing on it.During my pratice hours I have to see some famale patients, sometimes even i have to touch some of her body parts(though i try to avoid it in all my ways).It is also mentionable that there are no qualified female doctor of my subject in my area.Now 1)in this situation whether it is zaij for me to see female patients? 2)Sometimes with male patients some female caregivers enter into my chamber, what should i do for it? 3)If seeing female patients are impermissible then should I change my speciality to subjects where i may not have to deal with adults like pediatrics( though that would b tough for me after so many years)? 4)Sometimes I give some investigations- like blood tests & others( that are really necessary) to diagnose a disease of my patients, in doing so i send them to some local renowned investigation laboratories to do those.As i help the laboratories to run their business they want to give me some money from the set amount of money they are taking for each investigation ( each amount declared by Local authority), my q is whether this money is halal for me or not? pls answe ASAP. jajakallah.
Answer
(Fatwa: 811/636/B=1431)
The body parts of women, whose seeing and touching is haram, if there is some pain or injury in that part and the treatment cannot be done without seeing or touching it, then in the case of dire need only seeing and touching of that particular part is allowable according to Islam.
و في البحر و ينظر الطبيب إلى موضع مرضها . 8/352
(2) If women patient and caregivers enter into your chamber unnecessarily stop them. However, you can talk to them if necessary.
(3) If necessary it is lawful for physician to treat women patients.
(4) Since you have played no role in this test, hence it is not lawful for you to take that money.
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband