What is Permissible for Medical Students in Diagnosing Diseases and What Is Not Permissible
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Your Eminence, this is a question from students at the College of Medicine. They say: We began our practical training in the hospital this year, and we examine patients to practice diagnosing diseases. What is permissible for us to do in this field, and what is not permissible? May Allah reward you with good.
Whatever is required for your learning is permissible, because the most that happens in this is that you look at the awrah (the part of the body that must be covered), for example. Looking at the awrah out of necessity is not a problem. However, if it were assumed that you were entrusted with examining a sick woman and you feared for yourselves from fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), then refrain.Say: And by Allah, we cannot do it. Can anyone be allowed to bleed people or cut open their bellies without first being tested? Testing is necessary, especially since the subject of medicine is not easy but is difficult. A person comes who has only understood medicine theoretically, and they say to him: Please, this patient is in front of you and needs his belly cut open from the neck to the navel, or from the navel to the pubic area. You cut open people’s bellies and call yourself a doctor. This is not acceptable. There must be a procedure, there must be practical training.
Whatever is required for your learning is permissible, because the most that happens in this is that you look at the awrah (the part of the body that must be covered), for example. Looking at the awrah out of necessity is not a problem. However, if it were assumed that you were entrusted with examining a sick woman and you feared for yourselves from fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), then refrain.Say: And by Allah, we cannot do it. Can anyone be allowed to bleed people or cut open their bellies without first being tested? Testing is necessary, especially since the subject of medicine is not easy but is difficult. A person comes who has only understood medicine theoretically, and they say to him: Please, this patient is in front of you and needs his belly cut open from the neck to the navel, or from the navel to the pubic area. You cut open people’s bellies and call yourself a doctor. This is not acceptable. There must be a procedure, there must be practical training.