Thiruvananthapuram: The demand by women medicos of Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, seeking permission to wear surgical hoods and long-sleeve scrubs inside the operation theatre as a substitute for their ‘hijab’, is absurd and should not be considered at all as patient safety and sterile protocols in operation theatres (OT) cannot be compromised, according to Dr Naresh Purohit, Executive Member Federation of Hospital Administrators, here on Saturday.

Expressing concern on this issue Visiting Professor at the Thrissur based Kerala University of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Dr Purohit told UNI that "In hospitals, top priority is given to the safety of patients. There is a globally accepted dress code for medicos who conduct surgeries."

He stressed that the operation theatre is a secular place and where sterilisation protocol cannot be compromised with.

Noted Infectious Disease expert informed that the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has made it clear that the patients should be the prime priority of doctors, and not any beliefs.

He emphasised that medicine should be allowed to be free from any impositions of religion and faith.

He averred that the sterile protocols and dress code inside operation theatres followed internationally accepted norms such as “Bare Below Elbow” policy, which had been directed at ensuring patient safety and that these should not be compromised.

He pointed that the demand of not being allowed to wear hijab inside OT was made by a few individual students, not by any organisation. It is evident that these requests, which on the surface cannot be agreed upon, were made in order to stir up unwelcome disagreement and divisiveness.

The authorities can only deny it since it can interfere with the sterilisation protocol, he added.

(With UNI inputs)