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.
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...