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Epidural from a Male doctor

Q:

Salam Alaikum,

I hope you are well and in good health. I have a question regarding epidural (an anaesthetic that some women request before delivery to kill the pain).

Is it allowed in islam to let a Male doctor do it where he will get to see your full back naked from neck to lower back and he will also need to touch your skin to check for point for injection.

I am aware that in life saving need situation, it may be permissible but epidural is taken to ease the pain of labour and delivery and in my opinion is NOT life threatening/ saving need.

Kindly guide us on this. Jazakallah khair

A:

Waalaykum Salam

Thank you for your question.

It isn’t permissible for a woman to obtain any medical service from a non-Mahram that involves touching or seeing (seeing accept the face and hands upto the wrist) hence, it isn’t permissible for you to get an epidural by a male medical personnel. you may want to find a female alternative.

Hope all goes well,
N.S.Jaffery