Reply To: Do women avoid seeking necessary medical care out of modesty?

Even within the Chareidi tzibur, it is accepted that pikuach nefesh trumps any concerns regarding tzinius. If one feels they are c’v suffering from a potentially life-threatening injury or illness, their first and only concern should be finding the best medical care, regardless of gender, as quickly as possible without debating matters of tzinius. As a practical matter, the majority of medical professionals in frum neighborhoods hospitals tend to be male so its not even an option to search for a woman physician in an emergency. Fortunately ,that is changing and more bnos yisroel are being encouraged to pursue medical degrees but for now, men are the norm. For lesser (non-urgent) medical needs, of course a woman can seek a woman medical care provider for such matters as OB/GYN, internal medicine, urology, etc. but otherwise if that makes her more comfortable. While there may be a de minimus number of cases where a misguided frum woman has delayed seeking care or goes to a less experienced medical provider in a life threatening health issue out of tzinius concerns, such cases are thankfully very rare and should remain so. It is incumbent on all rabbonim and askanim to make the point of seeking timely treatment from the best available professional with no concerns as to gender.