Rodriguez del Pozo Research Cited in New York Times
November 2010
Dr. Pablo Rodriquez del Pozo
A paper on basic Islamic medical ethics and ways to accommodate Muslim sensitivities within the health care system by Aasim Padela, M.D., of the University of Michigan and Pablo Rodriguez del Pozo, M.D., of Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar was featured in a recent article in The New York Times.
“Respecting Muslim Patients’ Needs,” published in The Times Nov. 1, discusses some of the dilemmas confronting health care workers in hospitals serving observant Muslim patients. The article cites extensively from a paper in the October issue of the Journal of Medical Ethics by Drs. Padela and Rodriguez del Pozo.
“The overarching Islamic ethic pertaining to cross-gender interaction is maintaining modesty,” say Drs. Padela and Rodriguez del Pozo in their paper.
“Given the Islamic ethics concerning cross-gender interaction one can understand how the medical arena may be uncomfortable for some Muslims. The challenge for providers is to understand, and recognize when, Islamic conceptions of modesty might make patients reticent to change their dress, to expose parts of their body, to be physically examined, or to be alone with a member of the opposite sex.
“As providers we have to be cautious not to stereotype patients but on the other hand must create the space for patients to relay concerns, preferences and values. Thus for patients who appear to be Muslim one could easily offer the comment ‘I know some people are very anxious about being examined or take care of by someone who is not of their gender, do you have any concerns you want to share with me? This could be followed up by asking, ‘Is there anything you want me to do differently or be cautious about during the physical exam?’
Click here for the complete New York Times article
Click here to read the published paper
