The ruling on free mixing of men and women due to dire necessity or pressing medical need
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Question:
This questioner says, “O His Eminence the Shaykh: We are doctors who went abroad to study and specialize. We constantly face a problem when examining women there, which is the absence of nurses to assist us in examining them, due to the customs in those countries. What should be done? Is it permissible? And if it is not permissible, what is the expiation after we return to our country? Please inform us, may Allah reward you with good, so that we may clear our consciences in this matter.”
Answer:
If dire necessity calls for examining a woman, it is permissible in Islamic countries and elsewhere, but there must be a companion with the examiner so that he is not alone with her. Thus, a nurse, a female doctor, or a male doctor should be present if women are not available. This is because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade being alone with a woman, and Satan is present and eager. One treats and looks if dire necessity calls for it, but only in the presence of a companion so that the soul, which commands evil, and Satan do not lead him to what is not permissible for him, such as kissing, intercourse, or anything else.
If dire necessity calls for it, there is nothing wrong with this, but there must be someone else with him. If dire necessity does not call for it, women have female doctors and men have male doctors; thus, women are for women and men are for men. However, if a situation arises and a woman needs a male doctor because there is no female specialist, it is permissible, or if a man needs a female doctor because there is no male specialist and the female doctor has the specialization, it is permissible in cases of dire necessity, but without being alone. It is necessary to avoid being alone by having a nurse with the doctor, or a male nurse according to the need: if the patient is a woman, a woman must be present, and if a woman is not available, a man must be present so that there is no seclusion. This is according to one’s ability and possibility; the point is that he must not be alone with her.
This questioner says, “O His Eminence the Shaykh: We are doctors who went abroad to study and specialize. We constantly face a problem when examining women there, which is the absence of nurses to assist us in examining them, due to the customs in those countries. What should be done? Is it permissible? And if it is not permissible, what is the expiation after we return to our country? Please inform us, may Allah reward you with good, so that we may clear our consciences in this matter.”
Answer:
If dire necessity calls for examining a woman, it is permissible in Islamic countries and elsewhere, but there must be a companion with the examiner so that he is not alone with her. Thus, a nurse, a female doctor, or a male doctor should be present if women are not available. This is because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade being alone with a woman, and Satan is present and eager. One treats and looks if dire necessity calls for it, but only in the presence of a companion so that the soul, which commands evil, and Satan do not lead him to what is not permissible for him, such as kissing, intercourse, or anything else.
If dire necessity calls for it, there is nothing wrong with this, but there must be someone else with him. If dire necessity does not call for it, women have female doctors and men have male doctors; thus, women are for women and men are for men. However, if a situation arises and a woman needs a male doctor because there is no female specialist, it is permissible, or if a man needs a female doctor because there is no male specialist and the female doctor has the specialization, it is permissible in cases of dire necessity, but without being alone. It is necessary to avoid being alone by having a nurse with the doctor, or a male nurse according to the need: if the patient is a woman, a woman must be present, and if a woman is not available, a man must be present so that there is no seclusion. This is according to one’s ability and possibility; the point is that he must not be alone with her.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.