What is the ruling on a woman consulting a male psychiatrist when a female psychiatrist is unavailable at the hospital, and her family refuses to go to another hospital where a female psychiatrist is available?
If a woman's visit to a doctor necessitates the exposure of her awrah (private parts) or touching, then it is impermissible for her to go to him, and it is not permissible to obey her family by preventing her from going to a female doctor, except in cases of necessity. However, if it does not necessitate the exposure of her awrah or touching, and the consultation takes place without khalwah (private seclusion), then there is no objection to it, and going to a female doctor is preferable.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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