Zeinab Donati's response to Is examining and doing medical procedures on the opposite gender considered haram in Islam?

I am currently studying to become a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner but in order to get to that position I have to work in the medical surgical unit as a registered nurse in which I have to take care of both male and female patients.

Zeinab Donati, Zeinab Donati has been studying books about various Islamic subjects for more than 19 years. She is deeply interested in history and politics as well as social issues in particular those pertaining... Answered 2 years ago

Assalamu aleykum,

Thanks for your question.

Examining and doing medical procedures while studying to become a registered nurse or a doctor, being a part of the training required to reach that position is absolutely permitted.

Kindly refer to the following texts online:

- A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West by Ayatullah Sistani, under the chapter “Medical Issues”, especially question 355 and 356:

https://www.al-islam.org/a-code-of-practice-for-muslims-in-the-west-ayat...

- Islamic Rulings: Medical Issues, by Sayyid Khamanei, chapter “Rules Regarding Looking, Touching and Examining”:

https://www.al-islam.org/islamic-rulings-medical-issues-sayyid-ali-khame...