7 Kerala GMC medicos demand hijab alternative inside OTs

Thiruvananthapuram: Expressing concern about not being allowed to wear hijab inside operation theatres, a group of seven MBBS students at the Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College have requested permission to don long-sleeve scrub jackets and surgical hoods at the earliest. 

A woman medico, belonging to the 2020 batch, wrote a letter to principal Dr Linnette J Morris on June 26, citing the matter. The request letter was also signed by six other female medical students from different batches of the college.

In the letter, the students complained that they were not allowed to cover their heads inside the operation theatre. “According to our religious belief, wearing hijab is mandatory for Muslim women under all circumstances,” they said.

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"Hijab-wearing Muslims have a difficult time finding a balance between donning compliant religious attire and maintaining modesty while complying with hospital and operation room regulations," they said. The students further pointed out that alternatives can be used based on options available for hospital personnel in other parts of the world.

“Long-sleeve scrub jackets and surgical hoods are available, which allow us to maintain sterile precautions as well as our hijab,” they said. They wanted the principal to look into the matter and grant them permission to wear the same in operation theatres at the earliest.

Confirming the reception of the letter, Dr Morris said she explained to the students the need to follow the prescribed precautionary practices inside the operation theatres and the necessity to adhere to the present globally accepted dress code there.

She said the operation theatre is a highly sterile zone, and the health and safety of patients are of utmost priority there.

Dr Linnet stated that it is not practically possible to wear long-sleeve jackets, as they demand, inside the theatres as several rounds of scrub-up (washing up to the elbow in running water) are involved while doing a surgical procedure or assisting in it.

It is a globally accepted procedure and practice inside the operation theatre, she explained.

“We cannot simply cross over the existing procedures and practices inside operation theatres. I explained to them all the problems involved in it,” the principal told PTI.

To address the concerns of the students, Morris said she assured them she would form a committee of surgeons to look into the matter as she cannot take a decision on this matter alone. Following this, the medical college authorities on Wednesday held a meeting and is expected to come up with a solution within 10 days.

“There is an infection control team comprising the staff nurse, microbiologist, and all. I told the students that we would discuss the pros and cons of the matter and let them know about the final outcome,” she said.

An anaesthetist by profession, the college principal said the safety of patients cannot be compromised. 

Opposing to the demands of the students, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Kerala has disapproved of allowing students to serve services wearing hijab since it compromises patient safety and standard dress codes.

Commenting on this, IMA Kerala chapter President, Dr Zulfi Nuhu told Mathrubhumi, “In hospitals, top priority is given to the safety of patients. There is a globally accepted dress code for medicos who conduct surgeries. IMA will continue to stick with the protocols and is not ready to compromise on patient safety."

It comes after the state government banned hijab on campus which ignited an intense debate last year. The issue sharply divided public opinion, with one section arguing that the religious custom had no place in educational institutions and the other looking at the ban on hijab as a crackdown on rights of minorities.

From September 2021 onwards, women students at a Government Pre-University College in Udupi, Karnataka, were instructed not to wear their hijabs to college. In December, students wearing the hijab were barred from entering college premises, and on January 1st 2022, the Chairman of the College Development Committee passed a Resolution stating that students would not be allowed to wear the hijab. Then , students protested against the ban. 

In response to the protests of the students, other students demanded that they be allowed to wear saffron shawls and scarves to college. They claimed that the ban violated their Right to Religious Expression.

Later, some students moved to the Karnataka High Court, challenging the Government Order banning hijabs in educational institutions in the state. However, the court upheld the government order, saying hijab is not an essential practice in Islam. 

This verdict was challenged in Supreme Court. A two-judge bench delivered a split verdict, with one judge upholding the high court ruling and the other rejecting it. The Supreme Court has said that it will create a three-judge bench to hear the matter.

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