THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A group of seven students of Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College have written to the principal raising concerns over not being allowed to wear hijab inside the operation theatre and seeking permission to wear long-sleeved scrub jackets and surgical hoods at the earliest.

The letter written by a student of the 2020 MBBS batch carries signatures of six students from the 2018, 2021 and 2022 batches.The letter says they are not allowed to cover heads inside the operation theatre and according to their religious beliefs, wearing hijab is mandatory for Muslim women under all circumstances.

"Hijab-wearing women have a difficult time finding a balance between donning the compliant religious attire and maintaining modesty while also complying with the hospital and operation room regulations," it says.College principal Dr Linette J Morris confirmed receiving the letter.

"They want to use long sleeves and hoods.

I told them that in the long run it is not feasible as you have to scrub up for a procedure or when we assist in a procedure (wash upto the elbow in running water).

We follow universal standards to ensure a sterile environment.

I have told them that I am not in a position to decide on their request.

A meeting of surgeons and infection control experts will be convened.

Patient safety is of utmost priority.

We will convene a committee and look at both sides and the focus will be on the safety of patients, which cannot be compromised," said Dr Morris, an anesthetist for 32 years.The contents of the letter are similar to those of a website, Hijab in the OR, run by Dr Deena Kishawi, a Chicago born-and-raised obstetrician and gynecologist resident physician.Bare-below-the-elbow attire policy in operating roomAccording to the website, Dr Kishawi runs an initiative to raise awareness about barriers faced by hijab-wearing women in surgery and to create educational material about Muslims in Medicine.

The contents are similar to an article posted by Dr Kishawi on social media in 2018 and made available on the website’s home page.The operating room attireis presently followed based on the bare-below-the elbow policy and universal standards being followed in hospital areas with sterile procedures (ASP).

Senior surgeons stressed the need to follow universal regulations when asked about the students’ request.“We have a standard system and set of practices being followed all over the world irrespective of caste, creed or religion.

We shouldn't attempt to bring religion into the medical field.

Earlier, nuns used to wear their religious dress in theatres, but they went back to wearing the conventional surgical dress.

We shouldn't dilute the principles we follow to ensure a sterile operating room,” said Dr Rajan P, emeritus professor of surgery, Govt.

Medical College, Kozhikode and national executive committee member of the Association of Surgeons of India.