Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Male gynecologists and obstetricians report have been attacked on several occasions by men who do not want them to examine their pregnant wives or deliver their babies. Dr. Mohammad Idrees, an obstetrician at the Maternity and Children's Hospital in Jeddah's Mosadiyah area, said 20 percent of men coming with their wives to the hospital go as far as verbally and physically assaulting the doctors once they find out that their wives may give birth under the supervision of a male doctor. "Many of the men refuse to have us even talk to their wives. In some cases, it is the women who refuse to be treated by a male doctor while their husbands do not have any problems with that. We have been told by the police that they receive an average of three complaints daily against male obstetricians from husbands of female patients," said Idrees. A Saudi man was arrested after he allegedly shot the male obstetrician who assisted his wife's delivery at King Fahd Medical City in Riyadh last week. The man argued that Dr. Muhannad Al-Zabn had no right to help during the delivery and that a woman gynecologist should have done the job instead. The delivery took place at a specialist hospital for women at the medical city with the help of Dr. Zabn, who is half Jordanian and half Saudi. The shooting occurred one month after the delivery, when the father came to the hospital saying he wanted to thank the doctor for helping his wife during the delivery. During a conversation with the doctor in the hospital's courtyard, the husband took out a gun he was hiding under his clothes and shot him. A spokesman for the hospital said the doctor's condition was now stable and he was recovering. Many social media users sided with the obstetrician and expressed sympathy, while others argued that women gynecologists should be available to deliver babies in respect of cultural and religious values. Dr. Idrees said doctors do not get the respect they deserve as human beings and are often insulted and disparaged by men who do not want their female relatives treated by male doctors. "When we get a case where a man is adamant in refusing to let male doctors treat his wife, we have him sign a paper stating that he will take full responsibility of whatever happens to the mother or baby, and not the hospital. Then we try our best to find a female specialist in the field to attend the case," said Idrees. He said female doctors specialized in obstetrics and gynecology are very few and are overwhelmed by the workload. "With many patients refusing to see male doctors on a daily basis, the female doctors are fully occupied with patients. Sometimes we have to have assistants of nurses in the delivery room to help with the delivery. This slows down the delivery as many women have to wait until a female doctor becomes available," said Idrees. He also said men who attack male doctors for attending to their wives should not get off scot-free. "We need more security guards and police officers in maternity hospitals. Doctors and husbands report to the police cases of assault on a daily basis. The situation must be controlled and such behavior must not be tolerated," said Idrees. He explained that specializing in obstetrics and gynecology is really hard. "This specialization requires a lot of skills, including expertise in surgery. Childbirth is a very critical situation and the lives of both the mother and baby are at stake. If the doctor fails to interfere in time, the results can be fatal," said Idrees. On the shooting incident at King Fahd Medical City, he said: "We as doctors are performing a humanitarian duty. We serve the people and all we hope for is for them to be grateful for our service. Will you treat the person who saved your life by shooting him? The assailant must be severely punished and the doctor must be compensated by the Ministry of Health."
