Can Men and Women Receive Medical Treatment From the Opposite Gender? — Shaykh ʿAbdul-ʿAzīz ibn Bāz Explains the Islamic Ruling

Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Aziz ibn Baz was asked regarding a woman being treated by a male doctor, to which he responded:

“The woman (female doctor) is to treat the woman. As for the male doctor, he is to treat the man. But in the case of necessity there is no harm in the male doctor treating the female. Such as if there is no female doctor present, there is no harm—in this case—in a male doctor treating her. Similarly, the man may be treated by the female doctor if no male doctor present who is cognizant of his ailment; in this case there is no harm. As Allah said:

 ﴿فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ﴾ 

Fear Allah within the scope of your capability. (At-Taghabun 65:16)”

The Announcer: “May Allah reward you with good; is this the case even in the case of child birth and what resembles it?”

Shaykh: “In a case of dire necessity there is no harm; if there is someone (male doctor) who can deliver her child and she fears for herself, then yes.”

Source: Fatawa Nur ‘Ala Ad-Darb no. 15338

Translated by Raha Batts