Should Hospitals Ban The Niqab?

[lynnmarie]

There has been a lot of news articles recently on whether doctors in hospitals should be banned from wearing the niqab. I am studying politics a level and this is one of the issues i will be conducting my debate on, so I was wondering if you could perhaps post your opinions on this issue here? Thankyou!

[Bazile]

//Other than allowing for hygiene levels, what's the difference between a nurse or doctor in an operating gimp suit and facial mask and a woman in an Abaya and Niqab? Actually not that much. //

DTCwordfan - yes but the doctor in an 'operating gimp suit and facial mask' will only wear that , while he/she is in the operating theatre .
When the operation is finished they will remove the mask and the patient will see their faces subsequently .

Further , the patient would have seen the doctor and other staff , previously in consultations .

[cassa333]

I think they should be banned in all official posts (local and central government, espescialy NHS in all it's guises etc.

I want to be able to see the person I am interacting with. And I want to be able to read not only their lips (I am a bit deaf) I want to be able to read their body language.

It is human nature to want to see and interact with people and covering up in this way is unnatural.

I don't care about religion or politics or being 'pc' I don't care where they come from, what their name is. All I want is clear understandable interaction with the official I am dealing with. If I cannot see their face I cannot get that.

[Sqad]

How do these people who wear a niqab get appointed?

Do they present themselves at interview with a niqab?

I have never come across this problem in 40 years working in a hospital.

Is this a recent trend?

[craft1948]

I thought that niqab wearing ladies weren't supposed to talk to or look at men other than family members, so how could they do a job in the NHS?

[B00]

Not that I frequent hospitals often (tough wood i don't again for a while too!) but whenever I have been I've never seen anyone wearing a Niqab, is this a recent phenomenon?

That being said, If I did see one who was hoping to attend me or mine, i'd politely request their Niqab was removed or i'd want treating by someone else, I find them unnerving.

Mini Boo as a toddler saw a lady wearing one a few years ago and as it was a new experience to her, it was one that thoroughly frightened the crap out of her, the look was totally alien to her.

[coccinelle]

lynnmarie:
the only reason why a ban would be appropriate is if the doctor was attending to an afghan male for example. I am sure that a non-muslim doctor could be found somewhere in the hospital to attend to him.
I'm not sure where a muslim doctor who was forced to wear the niqab would have had her training.

[joko]

i think in this country where on the whole we are not used to it, we would not take too kindly to being treated by someone wearing one

facial expressions are very important to communication.

as we all know, these are not essential to be worn - they are a choice - so there is absolutely no reason why they could not remove them if they work in a hospital - at least from the face.

there is also the issue of security - of abuse etc and of people being unable to identify someone because of this - there could be thefts, baby snatches, imposters, all sorts of things and cctv would be useless.

perhaps they should create a new one they shows nose and mouth but that still hides the neck and ears etc.

[lozzer50]

they should be banned . i would definately refuse treatment from someone i couldnt even make eye contact with.

[tamborine]

In view of samantha Lewthwaite & Kenya terrorists the nicab should be banned in public.

[jno]

doctors and dentists I've encountered routinely put on masks, so it actually seems to be a plus rather than a minus.

[B00]

As already said jno, they put on masks to operate or do anything medical to you, they don't (normally) wear those whilst conversing and consulting with their patients.

[tamborine]

those masks are temporary during treatment only Jno

[leahbee]

In which countries do women wear the niqab and is it compulsory?

[Baldric]

that's true

[lynnmarie]

Thank you for your input people :) & The Niqab's are worn by Muslim women however very few in our country do tend to wear them, however some communities more than others. The Niqab is more widely worn in the middle east.

[mallyh]

yes .when i've been in hospital even the surgeon had the mask under his face when talking to me .