Kerala's MBBS students demand religious dress code in OTs

Few Muslim MBBS girls have demanded to wear "long sleeve scrub jackets and surgical hoods" in operation theatre to comply with their religious beliefs. As per reports, the demand has not been welcomed by the medical fraternity.

As per reports, a group of seven Muslim female MBBS students from different batches of Government Medical College in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram have demanded permission to wear scrubs with long sleeves and hoods inside operation theatres to comply with their mandatory religious guidelines. 

Indian Express reported that the college's principal Dr Linette J Morris said that she has explained to the students that operation theatres have a universally accepted dress code, which can not be compromised.

"These students belong to different batches and they are not new to the operation theatre. I told them that the priority is for patient safety and the OT is a sterile area, where the dress code cannot be changed. I hope they will be convinced. Yet, I have sought time to consider the issue. We may form a committee of doctors from departments of anaesthesiology and microbiology to look into the matter," she said.

The principal also added that the students have not approached them under the banner of any organisation.

"I don't know what made them come up with the request now. They seem to be convinced about the difficulties and risk factors in allowing them to wear hoods and long sleeve scrubs," she said.

Dr Morris also said that the decision cannot be taken at the medical college in Thiruvananthapuram alone as there are several medical colleges in the state and there are practical difficulties in meeting the demands of these students.

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