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Fatwa CenterUrgent surgery requested
Question
Please refer to question 61150. This is an urgent matter. Please respond as quickly as possible. I am a sick person who has tried and tried to lose weight. I have been trying for years and have been under a doctor's care. I am suffering with high cholesterol and have a family history of diabetes and heart disease. I have been approved for gastric bypass surgery. I have seen a psychologist and dietician as well. I have surgery scheduled for May 27, 2003. I need to make sure that this surgery is Halal is my case. I am a mother of 4 and am over 100 lbs. overweight. My condition if not corrected will lead to other health problems. I can not seem to lose weight and this bypass surgery will give me the tool to lose weight, learn and train my brain to make better decisions, and help my physical self. Just as heart bypass surgery has a purpose, this surgery is a necessity to my health and should not be treated as a quick fix. This is a serious decision out of desperation. This surgery gives the obese person the tool to live a better and healthier life.
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
If any reliable Muslim or non-Muslim lady doctor certifies that your situation can undoubtedly harm you, then undertaking the operation is allowed. This permission is based on the ruling of Shariah that harm should be removed. However, this operation should not lead to other similar or more harmful means since according to Shariah any harm should not be removed through a similar harm. Only a reliable doctor can decide whether obesity causes more harm than an operation or not. There is no difference between the decisions of a male or female doctor in this regard.
However, a woman is not allowed to receive treatment from male doctors if female doctors are available.
Allah knows best.
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