FEMALE PRIVACY AND CROSS-GENDER INTERACTIONS IN MEDICINE: AN ISLAMIC ETHICOLEGAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

As physicians encounter diverse patient population, socioeconomic circumstances, religious values and cultural practices may present barriers to the delivery of quality care. Gender roles, relationships and boundaries are culture specific, and are frequently shaped by religious teachings. The Islamic beliefs and values inform Muslim behaviours and is relatively under-investigated. Respect to others values and privacy and is the right of patients. Hijab is the religious duty for muslim female and in fact is the privacy right. In an effort to explore the impact of Islam on the relationship between patients and providers, we present an Islamic perspective on cross-gender relations in the patient-doctor relationship. Next, we provide a brief overview of the foundations of Islamic law and ethical deliberation and then proceed to develop ethicolegal orders pertaining to gender relations within the medical context.