I'm on record as supporting wide latitude for religious believers seeking exemptions from rules so as not to violate their right to freely exercise their religion.

But when you are talking about seeking an exception that endangers the health of patients because your religious beliefs go against basic hygiene rules, I have no sympathy for you.

Muslim medical students are refusing to obey hygiene rules brought in to stop the spread of deadly superbugs, because they say it is against their religion.

Women training in several hospitals in England have raised objections to removing their arm coverings in theatre and to rolling up their sleeves when washing their hands, because it is regarded as immodest in Islam.

Universities and NHS trusts fear many more will refuse to co-operate with new Department of Health guidance, introduced this month, which stipulates that all doctors must be "bare below the elbow".

The measure is deemed necessary to stop the spread of infections such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile, which have killed hundreds.

Minutes of a clinical academics' meeting at Liverpool University revealed that female Muslim students at Alder Hey children's hospital had objected to rolling up their sleeves to wear gowns.

Similar concerns have been raised at Leicester University. Minutes from a medical school committee said that "a number of Muslim females had difficulty in complying with the procedures to roll up sleeves to the elbow for appropriate handwashing".

Sheffield University also reported a case of a Muslim medic who refused to "scrub" as this left her forearms exposed.

Documents from Birmingham University reveal that some students would prefer to quit the course rather than expose their arms, and warn that it could leave trusts open to legal action.

It is very simple -- if the burqa babes want to follow sharia law, they can. However, they can't be doctors if they do. After all, you do not have the right to infect a patient with a life-threatening disease in the name of your religious faith.

After all, this isn't a medical professional refusing to participate in abortions or refusing to dispense birth control or abortifacient drugs. This is someone who insists that they can't follow basic medical protocol to provide even a minimum amount of protection to patients.

Posted by: Greg at 04:52 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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