HÜDA PAR’s call for gynecology and obstetrics hospitals staffed entirely by women has reignited debate in Türkiye over patient privacy, religious sensitivities and women’s right to access healthcare in an environment that respects their beliefs and personal dignity.

The Free Cause Party (HÜDA PAR) has renewed its demand for dedicated hospitals staffed exclusively by female healthcare professionals, arguing that women should be able to receive medical treatment without compromising their religious convictions or concerns about privacy.

The party reiterated its proposal on Oct. 26, marking Patient Rights Day, calling for the establishment of gynecology and obstetrics hospitals where women can receive treatment in accordance with their needs and sensitivities.

HÜDA PAR said dedicated hospitals staffed exclusively by female healthcare professionals would help women feel more comfortable and secure during gynecological examinations, pregnancy monitoring, childbirth and other sensitive medical procedures. It also called for privacy protections to be strengthened across healthcare facilities.

The proposal follows an incident reported at Adana City Hospital in September. According to media reports, a woman who had an appointment with a female physician for a gynecological examination encountered male doctors and assistants in the examination room. She requested to be examined by a female physician or with the assistance of female personnel.

The disagreement that followed led to a white code alert, and the matter was referred to the authorities. The woman reportedly left the hospital without undergoing the examination. Media reports said the parties filed complaints and that the legal process was continuing.

Türkiye’s patient rights framework includes protections concerning privacy, confidentiality, informed consent and access to healthcare. The regulations also provide for patients to choose or change their physician or healthcare personnel within the limits of available medical resources.

HÜDA PAR’s proposal raises a broader question about how Türkiye’s healthcare system can accommodate women’s religious convictions and personal preferences while ensuring timely access to safe and qualified medical care.

For Muslim women who observe Islamic principles of modesty, being examined by female healthcare professionals can be particularly important during procedures involving intimate parts of the body. Respect for these concerns can help patients feel more comfortable and encourage them to seek medical attention when needed.

From an Islamic perspective, protecting modesty and personal dignity is an important consideration. Although medical necessity may sometimes require treatment by a male physician, where a suitable female professional is available, accommodating a patient's preference can help respect her convictions and sense of privacy.

The reported incident in Adana illustrates the potential consequences when a patient's expectations regarding the examination environment are not met. However, the circumstances of the case should be assessed on the basis of verified evidence, including the hospital's account and the outcome of any legal proceedings.

Establishing women-only gynecology and obstetrics hospitals could provide an additional option for patients who prefer female professionals throughout their treatment. Other measures could include increasing the availability of female physicians, ensuring that patients are informed in advance about who will be present during examinations, and strengthening procedures for handling privacy-related requests.

Such measures would need to be implemented without compromising medical standards, emergency care or patients' access to necessary treatment.

Ultimately, the debate is about more than hospital staffing arrangements. It concerns how healthcare institutions can respect religious and cultural sensitivities while upholding patient dignity, professional standards and equitable access to care.

For supporters of HÜDA PAR’s proposal, providing women with meaningful choices would be an important step toward a healthcare system in which patients can receive the treatment they need without feeling that their religious convictions or privacy concerns are being disregarded. (ILKHA)