Distorted media reports on Muslim doctors' hygiene widely condemed

Alexis Annitto

I. Citation
Distorted media reports on Muslim doctors’ hygiene widely condemned
By Elham A Buras & Zeeshan Akhtar
The Muslim News
March 28, 2008
http://muslimnews.co.uk/paper/index.php?article=3413

II. Summary
In a hospital, hygiene of the doctors and other medical officials taking care of patients is a major priority. Muslim medical students object to the new policy which enforces proper hygiene in hospitals. They refused to roll up their sleeves or remove their arm coverings when washing their hands. This rule disobeyed their religious guidelines. Cleanliness is a priority to the patients in the hospital. This is adhered to by medical workers washing ones hands all the way up to her elbow.

III. Reactions
· This article relates to the theme interaction between humans and the environment because in the hospital doctors interact with their patients. Also, the environment of a hospital should be clean to ensure proper patient care by preventing disease transmission.
· Hospitals must maintain an optimal standard of care to prevent transmission of disease.
· The authors of this article are mostly likely an insider in this conflict. He believes that hygiene in an operating room is indeed very necessary.
· The authors of this article write in favor of hygiene and how important it is. Their opinions are directly stated in that they go as far as to say that the medical students should not have chosen a career in the medical field.
· The point of view missing from the article is the opinion of the patient. I think given a choice a patient would request a doctor who adheres to protocol as opposed to a doctor who prioritizes her religion sacrificing quality care and concurrently placing a patient at risk.
· I agree that hygiene in hospitals is very important. People in hospitals are most likely ill and they want to be healed. In order for them to return to good health they must limit the amount of exposure to disease during a time when their immune system may already be compromised. There is no room for any medical person to not wash from their hands to their elbows. I do understand that people must abide by their religious guidelines, but not at the risk of someone else’s health.