I greet you all by the Islamic greeting...Assalam Alaikum
I am a Muslim medical student. We do not refuse to deal with certain issues because indulging in them is sinful. We need to know why they are prohibited.We need to learn bout these things to go against them..Lets educate them about Islam.

ABDALLAH BAJABER, ZHENGZHOU, CHINA

As a muslim medical student, i disagree with those few students. My duty as a doctor is to help ANYONE to improve her/his health regardless of his/her beliefs. on the other hand, my duty as a muslim is to refuse certain behaviors.
But i don't have the right to judge others based on them.

Alaa , Amman, Jordan

As a muslim medical student, i completely disagree with those few students. As a doctor, my duty is to do whatever it takes to improve the health of ANY human regardless of his/ her beliefs.
(some muslims unfortunately drink) So,it's not a muslim/nonmuslim issue it's a false understanding of islam.

Alaa , amman, jordan

It seems like Muslim students are more vulnerable to cult extremist groups these days than Christian ones and fail to receive help because the general public scared of being seen as racist or interfering.

Kathy, Andover, UK

The GMC guidelines clearly state that whilst a doctor may not let his personal beliefs prejudice his care for this patients, he is entitled to hold them beliefs, and if they conflict with his practice, then he should refer the patient to another doctor. He does have a duty to learn about such things

Majid, Bradford, UK

As far as sexually intrusive examination ic concerned, a male doctor or nurse should be banned from carrying out exam on female......and vice versa....that would eliminate all the hassles...

Prasad, Kathmandu, Nepal

As a muslim med student myself, I do not agree with these muslim students and i feel that their attitude has nothing to do with islam. They are a minority, they do not deserve any special treatment. It is our duty to treat all patients & to know everything there is to know about all medical issues.

Lara, Tripoli, Lebanon

This is really ridiculous, how come the Muslim pharmicst or the Sainsbury checkout operator has refused to scan morning pill or alcohal. They simply leave the job. The Uk government is very much relaxed on religious ground,must change the law.
The muslim students think before studying the medical.

FARAZ KAIF, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

For more of the same you just have to look whats happened in Tameside Sainsburys with the Chemist refusing to supply the morning after pill because of his beliefs, beliefs are personal, but duty of care to patients and continuity of service comes first in a position of such public importance.

chris, Manchester, UK

As a muslim, I don't think that we are prohibited to learn about alcohol or even abortion and we should be compelled to help people by any means possible. By studying medicine, one should be able to learn all aspects of the course and to be prepared to help people no matter what their case is.

Aiaha Ibn Sad'ya, Dakar, Senegal

I'm a muslim who has recently earned a place at medical school. I find this sort of behaviour extremely radical and rather stupid. I do not feel as a muslim my religion will stop me from learning, in any way how to become a doctor and nor should it. That is not what Islam is about.

Certain of the reported cases may be understandable, everybody is entitled to feel the way they do, within reason. But surely it is obvious to anybody who is keen to become a doctor that they will inevitably have to examine a member of the opposite sex or learn about sex and alcohol. If these people do not wish to learn such things they should:

1. Most certainly forget about a career as a doctor

2. Perhaps move to a country where Islam is the main religion.

And we wonder why political correctness has gotton so out of hand. Its people like this that make others afraid to "offend" them when in fact there is nothing to be offended about.

Sonia , Manchester, England

These students refusing to learn parts of the curriculum, and doctors refusing to treat patients, should be struck off the GMC.
They should not be allowed to practise. It is laughable that they expect to get away with this sort of behaviour. And it does give Islam a bad name!

Arielle, London,

This is absoloutly obsurd. If they do not want to study certain aspects of the course then they are not suitable to be doctors. Every part in the course should be studied just like when you study any subject. I believe in equality but I feel that it is going a bit too far now.

Chris O'Hanlon, Wrexham, Wales

The stupidity is so obvious, let me give just two examples:

1. corruption: a BIG no -no in any religion. In my country, everyday we hear muslims arrested/investigated for corrupt practices
2. just during the Ramadan months, hampers were sent to the officers in my office and they were happily carrying away hampers that contained sparkling grape juice in the shape of champagne bottle.

Perhaps the religious must begin to teach their folk not to find excuses from carrying out their responsibilities. Having lived in UK for many years, I sometimes feel that the authorities are too soft!

i.doh

ivan , kuala lumpur, malaysia

I'm a medical student in London. One of my Muslim colleagues refused to see a single female patient all last year on 'religious grounds'.

What is more shocking is that the BMA and GMC are aware of such students and do nothing to stop them.

Even more concerning is that a GP practice in south London has started asking its non-Muslim patients to consider going elsewhere for treatment.

To suggest that they are adhering to Islam is ridiculous, they are following their own brand of prejudiced, bigoted discrimination.

I find it offensive that they haven't all been struck off.
How are these people Fit to Practise?
Why do the GMC do nothing?

TC, London,

I live in Malaysia. Our Muslim doctors and nurses, of both sexes treat all patients of all races and religions and for all kinds of diseases.

Florence Symons, Johore, Malaysia

this is a very interesting article i am very shocked about the students what they have done. the best thing for them is to change there major. as for our religion, i have never heard that you are not aloud to examine a lady.

randa, lebanon, lebanon

England is not a Muslim country and therefore expects its medical students to perform all duties as prescribed by law which includes the treatment of women. If Muslim students don't wish to participate they should drop medical studies or go back to their own countries and practice whatever it dictates. This is a non brainer.

june davies, windsor, CA USA

Perhaps these medical students, doctors or pharmacists would be better served to choose a different career. No one forced them to attend medical or pharmacy school. They can work elsewhere if they will not attend to their duties.

Kaylee, Dallas, Texas/USA

I guess women will not be treated in the UK in about 20 years? Better not get sick ladies.

Bryan Mullinax, Monument, USA/CO

Perhaps it would be better to encourage the students to take up a following where they would not be brought into direct conflict with their 'personal' ideals.

I say personal because God made man and woman, and all their body bits too. If anyone is disgusted by what God has made, even the most grotesque deformities; then they are not in tune with God, but with the works of the devil.

If a doctor is thinking like this about their work, then s/he is thinking in a sexual manner and their thoughts are not on healing (as distance put between men and women, by men, is always for sexual purposes, not for God's purpose.)

God uses the conscious through His Spirit to divide men and women appropriately. Therefore no doctor needs to fear any examination if their faith is strong.

What is cultural and what is of God? This is what a man needs to ask himself.

Carol, Midlands, UK

I wonder if those Muslim doctors would refuse to treat Muslims who had received lashes under Sharia law, or the poor thief's who have hands and feet amputated?

There are women going without medical treatment in Afghanistan where virtually all of the doctors are male, because they refuse to treat female patients.

Scott, Brighton,

I thought that doctors all sign an oath: to treat people of all categories? Let's hope that tha BMA make a firm stand. Sainsburys are on a dangerous track on agreeing that Muslim pharmacists may refuse to sell the morning-after pill, or when they allow their Muslim checkout operators to refuse to handle customers' alcohol purchases. Sainsburys are actually supporting these Muslims' lack of tolerance!
Will the Muslim medics stop at refusal to learn about abortions or to treat women, sexually transmitted and alcohol-related diseases? Who'll they refuse to treat next? Smokers? Prostitutes? Hippies? Homosexuals? Or people like me who write naughty limericks?

Sandy Lunoe, Sandvika, Norway

Part of the fault for this situation lies with the gutless wonders in places like Boots and Sainsbury's that allow such nonsense

john, Glasgow,

If an employee is required to perform certain duties and refuses, isn't that grounds for dismissal? And if not, it seems a precursor to anarchy; i.e., everyone just does what they want.

josil, San Diego, USA/California

How about all modern Muslims go along a forward path, not a backward medieval one, and let ijtihad/scriptural reinterpretation continue today as a modern process, not stalled a thousand years ago, and also accept that the separation of church and state is nowadays the ideal.

fadi, liverpool,

what a load of nonsense. islam does not forbid you being a doctor and treating illness of any cause. i find what is going on ridiculous and as a doctor and religious headscarf wearing muslim am very angry that these idiots are blackening my name by extension

Henna, london,

I am a medical student at Guy's and I find the contents of this article difficult to understand. I believe that it is ludicrous to present this as a widespread problem and for the umpteenth time the situation has been taken out of context, exaggerated, embellished and sensationalised. Muslims have, and continue to, carry out their professional duties deligently and suggestions otherwise are wholly untrue and disgraceful. Why use a few isolated, unrepresentative examples to slur the whole community? It is disappointing and saddeing, but not surprising.

S Ali, London,

These people are behaving exactly like the hysterical straw-women used in arguments of yesteryear to keep women out of medical school. I would not have believed scientists could behave in such a manner. What a disgrace to their people and their profession.

Geekwad, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

As usual a minority are getting their way. So can non-smoking cashiers refuse to sell cigarettes? Non-drinking ones alcohol? What about us who don't like vegetables, or fruit, or ... so ruddy ridiculous.

What annoys me the most about this sort of thing is that if I visited a Muslim country, I would be expected to obey ALL their rules - there would be no "special allowances" for me - so why is it that any country of non-Muslim faith has to make allowances?

Next we will be reading about "gay" doctors not wanting to treat members of the opposite sex!!!

What a sad and pitiful world we live in these days.

Deirdre, Portsmouth, UK

Every day I grow increasingly alarmed at apparent climate of appeasement and PC gone mad and pandering to the whining of a small religious minority being demonstrated in my country of birth. No wonder one comment above suggests that there a noticeable shift toward more right wing views may be occurring. I'd suggest that all those people who are refusing to carry on their normal daily work for which they were hired should find another job and/or the organizations that hired them should have the right to fire them without recrimination. Perhaps all the Asian restaurants and shops run by Muslims should stop happily profiteering form alcohol sales.

Martin, Columbia, Missouri, USA

As with many religions, it's not the message, it's the messengers! If people are stupid enough to believe them, then they deserve what they get. This politic correctness bull**** is only allowing for ignorance and stupidity to spread.

guna, Liverpool, U.K.

In Arabian Gulf States medicine is, generally, practised without discrimination. Muslim doctors use alcohol swabs, and prescribe pills/linctus which often contain alcohol or pig derivatives (are the capsules of antibiotics made of pig gelatine?). Likewise, their supermarkets sell pork products but keep them in a clearly marked separate area, out of consideration, so that Muslims can see what are 'haram', forbidden, should they wish to avoid them. Looking around these supermarket pork areas, it is surprising to see how many products do contain pig derivatives...like marshmallows, and other items, not obvious. What a headache this could become for Sainsbury's. Perhaps vegetarian cashiers might prefer not to handle any meat products, Hindu cashiers, no beef? And let's respect those cashiers who only approve of chemical free fruit/veg.

Jan Denning, Paris , France

"All that is required for evil to prevail is that good men do nothing".

I respect the professionalism of the muslim doctors who have posted comments. I would be the first to acknowledge that Britsh muslims contribute to Britain in so many ways.
Unfortunately, modern day Islam is being hijacked by an element who interpret the Holy Koran to achieve their own ends.

Likewise the British media uses examples such as this to disparage muslims generally. Support for right wing organisations is growing among moderate Britons in response to a government policy of appeasement and political correctness gone mad.

The racial/religious divide is growing like a cancer within British society and all the comments about sending people "home" are not the answer.

The British goverment and British muslims have to work together to prevent this radicalisation of Islam and demonstrate that using religion to abuse the privilidges of living in a 21st Century democracy is not acceptable

Mike, Cheshire,

This is absurd! What happens in hospitals where the community is largely muslim, no treatment? Surely letting someone die goes against a religious covenant? What about the case of a women who has been raped and contracted HIV or Hepatitus? Should she be judged in this manner. If you are going to practise medicine outside the Muslim community then you can't pick and chose patients on what you deem to be there low morals. If you can't me unbiased then you shouldn't be a doctor.

Jess, Worcester, UK

hello, my american friends. we are not sleepwalking towards sharia law. these so-called moslems are a tiny minority and most (including most moslems) think they are annoying idiots. on the other hand, fundamentalist christianity, which is just as ridiculous and debilitating, seems to have made considerably more headway in your neck of the woods than "radical islam" (or hypocritical nonsense) has here.

perhaps if you owned a few less guns and a few more passports, you would be less ignorant and smug. you've had more people abducted by aliens than we have radical moslems.

jem, london, uk

Perhaps other students should refuse to learn anything about illness and dysfunction caused by female circumcision.

Frank Upton, Solihull,

Just because a minority of Muslim people have been taking their religion far too seriously, it does not mean they are all the same! The majority of muslim people i have come across are peaceful and try to adapt to Western society.

Rather than arguing, how about we try to understand why these people are taking these drastic measures? Are these people being brain-washed by Extremists at local Mosques?

Common sense needs to be applied here. If these people are not willing to do a particular 'job' they should look elsewhere. I'm sure there are thousands of Muslims who will be happy to sell alcohol (as part of their job description) to customers. So sack these silly people... how can it be racial? Same applies to the doctors!

Rakesh, Swindon, England

why are they here then--???? why dont they go and work for a muslim only community.
It is just stupid and immature actions by the part of a narrow minded minority that is giving a bad name to other muslim medics.
They should adapt to the ways of the society they live in and wish to work in .
Doctors are supposed to help anyone no matter who they are , where they come from or what they do .

Daanish , westcliff, uk

Enough.. Someone has to say STOP to these radicals.. This is not related with Islam.. This is related with "to be fanatic".. Then I cannot understand that, how these stupid people can reach to have education in this academy?

Mehmet Hilmi Soylu, Ankara, Turkey

And yet thousands of Afghan 'farmers' are quite happy to culivate poppies to make herion. I am sure there are some 'strict' muslims amongst them.

How far will this go? These people are building a dividing wall within society

Jon, Guernsey,

It's so sad. Why does Britain surrender so easily? It's disgraceful.

Marc, Munich, Germany

It must be possible to differentiate between, on the one hand unacceptable discrimination against employing a doctors for a role simply on the basis that they are Muslim or from a non- white british background and on the other the type of level headed discernment which one should apply when choosing the best candidate for a post.

The best candidate can never be a doctor who is incapable of performing their duties fully becasue of desicions which they claim are based on personal religious sensibilities.

In fact, surely these doctors themselves are in effect advertising that they will happily discriminate against people of different religious beliefs (including those of no religion) who are thus free to take lifestyle choices which a Muslim life excludes. Such behaviour must contravene professional standards and possibly the laws of the United Kingdom.

Bob, Reading,

The taxpayer cannot refuse to pay taxes for religious reasons, so why should doctors bankrolled handsomely by the taxpayer be able to refuse to do their work for religious reasons?
Such "doctors" cannot be trusted by the patient and are a disgrace to their profession.

Dave, Southampton, UK

In 1972 my girlfriend's Doctor (White British) said to her when it was found she was pregnant, "Come back and see me when you're married".

Being young, naive and embarrassed we did nothing about it. We’ve now been married 35 years and I know what I’d do in a similar case today.

Bigots of all kinds need to be removed from their positions and left to find employment that suits them.

Jim, Newcastle,

Equally, do we as patients have the right to choose between Muslim and other doctors on the grounds of incomplete medical education and thus not able to treat us adequately. And would we then be branded as racists because we had made this informed choice. This is madness. Are we seriously going to allow Muslims to be treated differently to the rest of us and is this preciselty what our equality laws are all about. Or do the Muslims in this country have the right to pick and choose to their advantage whilst the rest of us look foolish and exploited as we just sit back and accept this superior indulgence. Get a grip UK. I am outraged by this and I just wish that I could suspend my colossal tax payments and not have to fund the predilections of a few selfish and over-indulged medical stutdents, practitioners and pharmacists. I am outraged and offended: and completely sick of pampering to false sensibilities.

Karen, Macclesfield, UK

Throw them out of medical school. People like these bring nothing but disgrace on Islam. So what will these so-called doctors do, just let patients die. Next they will be refusing to treat non-Muslims. They are creating divisions in society. The government must not allow them to get away on this one. I lived in Mumbai and there Muslim doctors treat all, whether they are Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Jain, Parsee or Jew. My own brother (a very religious Muslim) had a surgery and he never asked the patients their religion.

Abdul Kalam, Coventry, UK

I will not be shopping at Sainsburys or Boots for the next six months.
Would others like to do that?

Ian Robertson, Manchester, UK

I suspect these actions are the result of young British Muslims that haven't yet grown up or have a remote grasp of how complicated real life can be.

Refusing to learn about STDs? Then you are refusing to entertain the idea that some people that contract STDs can be monogamous innocent individuals with promiscious spouses. Refusing to learn about alcohol? Then you are refusing to conside the ethics of treating infants with birth traumas complicated by STDs and fetal alcohol poisoning. Refusing to consider evolution? Then how do you work within hematology where new blood group deviations appear every week? How do you begin to dissect the problem with congential complications that blight a significant percentage of Muslim births in Bradford?

It seems to me that these students are silly children that think they are very clever purely because they got some good A level results -- and therefore should be listened to at every turn.

Alex, Leeds, UK

Its unfortunate that a small minority of muslims behave in such a way. Personally those who have these beliefs should not be alowed to qualify as a doctor and perhaps they should consider a career as a vet where they will not have to deal with alcohol related illnesses, or worry about seeing members of the opposite sex. either that or they should seriously consider leaving England as they obviously offer no benefit to this Country. If the wests principles upset them so much I'm sure they could go and work in developing countries, offering far less pay, that maynot have these issues to contend with

matt, Bristol, England

Nuts. What chance would a Christian have of such actions in a Muslim country. If they aren't prepared to abide by our laws, let them go to a country which will tolerate their bigotry. And why are we training them (the Doctors) here. It really is beyond the pale.

Richard, Isle of Man, UK

This is terribly sad because to an outsider it seems as though Britain is like the proverbial frog in a pot of water -slowly being boiled to death without realising it. As a Briton living overseas I can observe these changes perhaps better than people who are living in the midst of it. There is something absolutely appalling about Sainsbury's workers refusing to serve alcohol and Sainsbury's helping them in this intransigence.

Heaven knows what it will take to bring this situation to a head and reverse this trend before you are all living in Britistan.

marlo, sydney,

Forgive me for saying this but isn't the war with Iraq's Saddam Husein over ???....Then send all the refugees back, and for that matter, every other country they have fled from where the war is finally over..

Yes, they may have needed to leave, but guess what, the wars over, so please, nice having yah 'n all that, now there's the boat !!..

I'm serious. This is my country...i know that because i actually am one of the rare few who was born in this country with my parents being born here too !!!!!..

Martyn, Hyde, Cheshire

Application forms for medical school should include a question about issues which might make an individual unwilling to study or pracyice in certain areas.
If the applicant indicates that he or she is unwilling to study alcohol related disease, or examine a patient of the opposite sex, for example, the place at medical school should be given to another candidate who is willing to fully participate in the training programme.
If a medical student cannot graduate due to failing to fully participate as a result of holding such opinions, it is a waste of the taxpayers money, and he or she should be required to pay something back.

Beryl, Peterborough,

this really is something and nothing. the only thing that matters is whether a person can pass the exams to qualify and whether, as a doctor, he or she will treat anyone, irrespective of the patient or the illness. the reasons why a person might fail an exam or choose not do the job properly are totally irrelevant.

most people are quite happy with this, whether moslem or not.

it is not a sign of a tolerant, liberal society that we allow bigotry, racism and sexism flourish. part of claiming your own right to freedom has to be accepting the right of others to their freedom. intolerant religious teachings should not themselves be tolerated.

students who hold these ridiculous views will no doubt hold a whole series of dangerous and antisocial views. they need to be dealt with. concessions are not the answer.

jem, london, uk

The attitude of this minority of Muslims, makes the muslim faith look small minded and Bigoted, to put it bluntly they are Racist and Sexist.

The rest of the Muslim community should condemn these so-called people of faith, i know many Muslims, and they are not this petty.

We should stop being told what to do by a minority, and follow the wishes of the majority, it would be a refreshing change

Rob, Birmingham, UK

ted and others, there is a world of difference in forcing someone to perform an active termination on a live foetus, or prescribe a morning after pill, to expecting a doctor to be able to treat and examine both sexes, or advise on sexually transmitted diseases.
If you can't see the difference your moral telescope needs servicing.
Doctors don't have to perform abortions or give morning after pills out, but should advise patients of the options and treatments available, and where to get them.

bill, towoomba,

It's nonsense that because of such weird people, people thinking as whole the moslems are like that.

cem yildiz, istanbul, turkey

No medical student in the UK should be allowed to be 'picky' and still qualify (and take the large salary that results).

This equally applies to Christian students who refuse to agree to (or peform) the termination of a pregnancy. These medics should not be allowed to practice in the UK.

Ted Farley , Manchester, England

Thanks for a good article. There is nothing in islam that prevents a doctor from treating a patient of the opposite sex and Muslim scholars unanimously support the position of the BMA in their pursuit of equitable healthcare.There is in islam a prohibition of having sexual contact outside of marriage. At the same time should any doctor feel threatened either sexually or otherwise they have a right to decline to treat. As regards not learning about alcohol consumption to preserve one's faith, that is where sublime meets the ridiculous.

Muhammad Ismail, Stirling, United Kingdom

I believe that it is a basic responsibility of the medical treatment to give treatment to those who need it, based on what they need. Medical professionals should not be permitted to refuse treatement on Moral grounds. After all even convicted murderers are entitled to medical care, so surely the same should apply to alcoholics, even if you believe alcoholism is wrong (a sentiment shared my many non-muslims). Refusing to learn how to treat certain people must indicate an intention to deny treatment to those people later on, which I believe makes such students unfit to become doctors.

Andrew Wimble, Brighton, England

I think this is fast sounding like a witch hunt. I can only find one other person pointing out something very obvious before diving in. The Muslims referred to who are refusing to do whatever are a tiny minority, not supported by their professional organisations, or, by the sound of things, by quite a few other Muslims here. ONE case is actually cited of ONE Muslim medical student who refused to examine a female patient and got failed as a result. Big deal - and if the story is true he has already been somewhat heavily punished. for a moment's daftness. A few people working in Sainsbury's or Boots have to get a colleague to serve a few items. Oh wow! How many live has that destroyed so far? Please get a grip. As someone else has pointed out many Roman Catholic doctors refuse to get involved in abortions - but then it is not open season on Roman Catholics this week, so we are not all babbling about it. By the way, just for the record, I am an atheist.

Julia, Birmingham, UK

If the medical students are deliberately refusing to aquire knowledge and/or demonstrate that they have the knowledge of any disesease, they can not be be fit to practice as medical professionals. They should therefore take the next logical step and withdraw from the training. They have in fact occupied training spaces and used national resources under false pretences and denied the nation to train willing professional.

Gulab, Surbiton,

Wow. It just gets worse! First the Muslim guy who wouldn't handle alcohol in Sainsburys even though it was part of his job....and now this? What next?

Carly jones, Bangor, N.Wales

There is concern that the present training regime for doctors forces them to be consultants too quickly, before they have become well rounded practitioners.

Perhaps it is not a good idea to have doctors who are not well rounded.

If this group prevents itself from being well rounded, how are they to proceed?

Antony Rigby, Farnham,

whats that old saying "if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen", If you know your going to come into contact with things which will cause you offence why put yourself into harms way, I know that if i walk on the road i could get hit by a car... so i don't do it.

I wonder if those Pharmacists dispense to their diabetic patients Porcine Insulin?, or whether those checout assistants scan their customers bacon. If you cant do the job properly leave it!!

Rob, Doha, Qatar

Who treats muslim women in muslim countries?????
What is the issue here? because the woman is not a muslim or because she is a woman??
if you can not treat humans, male or female alike then you should not be in mdical school, or may be should not be living in Europe if you can not treat non muslim women.
This is a religeous/gender discrimination.

noble, Brighton, UK

This is outragous!!! Islam encourages us to be educated to the highest level. Even if this means that you have to learn about something that you don't believe in. Religion is being used as something that is a personal choice. When you go into a profession such as becoming a doctor then you know that you will have to examine people of the opposite sex, if you feel that you cannot fulfil the requirements of the job then go into a profession where you know you will be able to fulfil the requirements.

Nazma, Bolton,

This is not Muslim's rejecting to treat the opposite sex, alcohol problems or sexual diseases it is a few Muslims. They are entitled to their opinion and if they do not wish to learn these area or treat patient they will fail their exams so not really a problem.

Our society has rules to which we are expected to follow and is not Sharia law, if these minorities do not like Britain's society behavior then they should feel free to change it via the electoral register or move to a society that follows their beliefs.

If I go to the chemist I expect them to behave in a professional manner and if they fail to do this I would report them to the appropriate authority.

Joe Kellie, Edinburgh, Scotland

I'm Mormon and I don't drink alcohol or coffee. Does that mean I can never go into a grocery store or a gas station? Wake up and use common sense!!!! One of the biggest principles in any religion is free-agency, the ability to choose. I would never look down on someone who wants to have a beer of cigarette, that is their choice and I would never consider myself better than them. These actions by these Muslims is an act of elitism where they think they are better than others and refuse to come in contact with these lesser beings. God did not teach this, it is a misconception and pride has become the major driving force behind these actions. Bad news!!!

Chuck, Idaho,

If the practice of medicine interferes with religious beliefs, then one should not practice medicine. It's folly to allow students to pick and chose what information and skill they'll learn. The only answer is immediate dismissal from the programs when this arises.

I could not chose to ignore mathematics in school despite my deep spiritual aversion. I was forced to not only attend, but pass several mathematics courses in order to get my degree. If only I could have attended university in the UK and explained that algebra violated the tenets of my religion.

Sunny, Miami, FL, USA,

This article doesn't answer a fundamental questions: how many Muslim students are behaving in this way? Even a rough figure would do. You only give one second-hand example of such a student. If you read the article closely, there is nothing to contradict the idea that only two cranky Muslims have ever raised such objections in recent years while thousands of others have gone on to become perfectly professional doctors, which would hardly merit a story.

Jon, London,

As a Catholic nurse, I am allowed to refuse to take part in abortions on religious grounds. However, as a sensible person, I would not apply for a job in a field of nursing that required me to do so.

A. Watson, London,

The argument that one should treat a female patient in an emergency but not during a "superfluous" training exercise is hogwash. How on earth is that physician supposed to be effective in an emergency if he's never practiced in a non-essential situation before?!

Medical training is standardized to produce competent physicians. No ifs ands or buts. Kick these kids out of the program. After they graduate, if they can find a hospital or private employer willing to put up with this crap, good for them. But nobody's going to doctors who refuse to treat more than 50% of the population. That's dumb business.

Lauren, Washington,

There are two kinds of bigotry on display here - both at their most ugly: one shown in the article, the second shown by the 'kick them ALL out' brigade.

Dr., Lancashire, UK

I can see where this kind of division and prejudice is heading. Let's extrapolate: I am in a shop queue. The person at the checkout is European / Chinese / Sikh / whatever. The line next to mine becomes free and the Muslim operator asks me to come to his aisle. I respond, "No, I have alcohol and don't want to be served by a Muslim." What an encouraging portent for multi-culturalism.

C. Laing, Auckland, New Zealand

How can it be that these people are taking up places in scientific institutions?

Bill, Sydney, Australia

I am an American born South Asian Muslim. There is nothing in Islam that prohibits the pursuit of education. These students are making a mountain out of a mole hill. It is a shame that they subject the world to their narrow minded thought process under the guise of Islam.

By forcing others to bend to their whims and fancies, they damage the reputation of Islam and its followers around the world.

Siddiqi, Chicag, USA

OK, so let's have 2nd rate doctors looking after us who haven't even had the courage to live in the 21st. century. I believe students who refuse should fail their exams as anyone else to didn't come up to par.

Roger Malstead, E Wenatchee, USA

As a Muslim I am absolutely disgusted (though not entirely surprised) by this. Hospitals and medical support are initially a "Muslim" concept with clinics and education set up to deal with deaths during the Crusades.

It is baseless and pointless and, actually, if they are training as doctors, I would be inclined to ask them to leave the course and take their nonsensical views elsewhere.

There aren't enough characters here for me to rant and rave about this because not only does it embarass me that a selection of my "fellow" Muslims can be so insular. I wish real Islam could be in these headlines instead - a feature on what Islam actually states about numerous things.

There are no religious restrictions on patient care and as far as Sainsbury's go - why do managers allow this? If you're going to put restrictions on what you can and can't sell, start your own pharamacy.

Pathetic.

Eshaan "I really am a Muslim" Akbar, London, England

If a doctor wont treat everyone equally, you can't be a doctor in my opinion.

You treat medical problems, you don't subject your religious beliefs on the public. People have medical problems due to many lifestyles. While you may not agree with them, you treat the medical condition and send them on their way.

It's no more of an endorsement for their behaviour as is treating an HIV patient is condoning homosexual conduct.

If you won't see patients, you won't be a doctor and should fail the class's. Too bad.

Joe, San Antonio Texas, USA

It is wrong for Muslim trainee doctors to refuse to treat alcoholism and female patients. Keep religion seperate from religion. If your religion forbids examining patients of the opposite sex do not become a doctor or take up any job which involves close contact with the opposite sex. All religions have changed due to social and technological changes. You cannot be selective in accepting only changes that suits you. Change in society is inevitable, if you do not accept you will be a loser.

Hindupur Rajagopalan, Mississauga, , Ontario, Canada

Wow. You Brits are giving up your country without a fight. How sad.

I guess that's what happens to a culture that thinks laying flowers on the ground or a moment of silence substitutes for fighting for one's way of life.

Vince P, Chicago, IL

I feel the same whether it is a pharmacist in the US not wanting to provide birth control or a physician in the West claiming all sorts of things are against his/her religion. Don't take up a vocation which requires you to perform actions you feel are against your religious beliefs. Or get your education, then work, in a country which agrees with your beliefs. It seems so simple, rather than trying to upset the apple cart amidst a culture which cannot begin to understand such beliefs.

Mona Bee, Florida, US

I'm yet another Moslem,

Not British or living in the UK . But I have been born and raised in a country with a substantial Moslem population and have yet to encounter this kind of behavior the part of Moslem students.

It seems anyone thinks they can get away with anything if it's in the name of religion these days. Don't let them get away with it

It definitely gives the islamophobes an excuse to shout bloody murder.

Musa, Amman/Jordan, Jordan

The admissions procedure for medics is not working if pathetic idiots like this manage to get through. How did they manage to convince scholars that they have a serious desire to save lives and practice medicine??? So what if they had good A-levels?? Applicants should be asked if they are religious, and if so, how they will reconcile that with medicine's aims and the fact that, as a science, it assumes evolution to be true. Medicine, perhaps more so than other disciplines, relies on a humanistic MATURITY which Muslim radicals are never going to achieve while they are in the throes of their growing pains, just like any other adolescent clutching to ideology. After admission to the course, they should continue to have to tackle this issue in tutorials, etc.
I wonder if these same individuals would refuse treatment to gays by the way?
Oh well, at least these idiots draw attention to themselves... as Doctor Simon has pointed out, might be a good idea to keep an eye on them now....

Chris Wood, Manchester,

I will boycott Sainsburys from now on! Boots too! I am British and were I too travel to a muslim country and impose my views upon them I would probably be stoned to death!

anne, norwich, uk

the views portrayed are of a minority , if you were to look further you would find there are similar views portrayed by a minority within all of the other faiths, there may always be a few. I agree the plan is simple if they refuse then they should not have taken up a job which coflicts with their religion, and the exceptions should not be made . but please stop blaming all the muslims and making such generalised statements about them, when actually you are only ever hearing about an extremely small minority. the majority of us do not even have time to think about such things as we are to busy doing our jobs

a dedicated british muslim doctor, england,

Maybe it should be pointed out that they are breaching the Hippocratic oath by proceeding with this stance and are therefore unfit to practice medicine.

I wonder what would happen if Western-born doctors working in the Middle East were to refuse to treat victims of severed limbs?

Mark, Edinburgh,

Yet another reason why I don't trust foreign-educated or foreign-born doctors. Their religious and cultural differences can compromise their judgment and decisions in ways not acceptable to me. Clearly these students belong in a Muslim medical school in a Muslim country. I wouldn't trust them with my health care.

Susan, Thornton, Colorado USA

Yet another reason not to trust foreign-educated or foreign-born doctors. I don't want my doctor's judgment and the quality of my care to be affected in any way by religious or cultural beliefs.

Susan, Denver, USA

As a Muslim medical student in the US, I am horrified! I do not understand why these radical students get such press. There are millions of Muslim physicians practicing all over the world that have no problem upholding their ethical responsibility and treating patients regardless of their illness, religion, sex, or race. It seems to me that Britain winds up with the most radical Muslims who truly do not understand even the most basic tenets of Islam. Islam is a religion of peace and understanding. Yes, you may not drink, but no where in any holy scripture does it say to not treat someone who does. That is beyond absurd and is against the core value in Islam of helping anyone in need. These few students should not be allowed to continue their education, since they fail to understand the core principles of humanity and dignity that are central to the practice of medicine. I am truly saddened that these few students have allowed the British public to get such a negative view of Muslims!

A.C, United States,

To the muslim medics and other muslim commentators. I have been greatly cheered that you have condemned these ridiculous attitudes and have been pleased to learn a bit more about Islam. I don't know how many such responses the Times have not published, but they have certainly published enough to make me believe that we are dealing with a radical minority, not a majority muslim view. However, I would ask that you and your colleagues take the stance you have shown into the Muslim community and do what you can to address such radical minority views which cause such harm to the image of Islam.

Bev, Oxford, UK

I am a practising Muslim Medical student and I have only one thing to say. This is absolute rubbish, this article does NOT represent Islam whatsoever.

There are 1000's of Muslim doctors working in the NHS, have you ever heard any of them refuse to treat alocholism or STI? In fact on of my Muslim friends is a Consultant in STI in Swansea.

Ahmed, London,

I am am Muslim medical student and I have to say that this article is completely inaccurate. The NHS has thousands of Muslim doctors across the country who are dedicated and help people with problems related to alcohol on a daily basis. I myself am a practising muslim yet I work in A&E every night and treat people with alcohol related problems and STDs all the time, and as a student I am willing to learn about alcohol and STDs just like any other topic in the course. If you were to do your research properly and not in a biased fashion you would find that the VAST MAJORITY of muslim medical students in this country have the same views as me.

If you want something truly interesting to ponder over than you should be thinking about the fact that hundreds of muslim medical students have been writing in to this blog yet the times is obviously very reluctant to show the views of true muslim medics.

a, london,

This angers and upsets me no end. I am a 5th year medical student in the UK and I believe strongly in the duties of our profession to treat people in a non-judgemental manner.

Burying one's head in the sand is not going to make problems like alcoholism go away - part of our job is to help those who are afflicted by such problems, and try to educate people about it.

I also see no reason why taxpayers should fund the education of those who refuse to learn, and so will turn out to be inferior doctors.

Its simple - if you are an intolerant, ignorant and narrow-minded, then don't do medicine.

Bhaskar Narayan, uk,

Actually, people are making lots of fuss about the religion concept. Muslims are allowed to seek the knowledge& Doctors cannot practice without learning. What about in their Muslim country, if their fellow is drunk or has been transfused HIV contaminated blood, would they refuse it? NO. Yes, there is issue for opposite sex
Patient, particularly the private area of man/woman. Any male doctors could be able to treat sister in-law/mother/ blood related family connections private part/or female doctors to treat private parts of their close kin (father, father inlaw, etc. There are ethical & moral issues and always has a resolution to accomplished by the same sex. In free liberal society, where nudity is not issue in their home/are religion free, this issue doesn’t exist

Shawn, Boston, USA

To the author "Name withheld, London," here is a plea.

Please try to encourage other Muslim doctors to act in the same way. How else do we change this?

You can see the vitriol it has evoked. Most (white I would suggest) people are fed up with told to be so "tolerant, understanding, welcoming to all", only to have it completely thrown back in our faces with endless examples of others being incredibly intolerant, unreasonable and not understanding; all with the liberal laws as reinforcement.

Where has common sense and acting reasonably gone?

Surely it doesn't take a genius to work out (whatever creed or religion you are) that the stance taken by these Muslim doctors is utterly offensive, without logic or a tolerance of others. Islam - the religion of peace we are constantly told. It appears to us outsiders as nothing but a religion of sheer intolerance, sexism, physical punishment and bigotry.

The wool is finally slipping from our eyes.

MMK, London,

When I was in Iran many years ago I stayed with the very conservative and deeply religious family of a young woman who was studying medicine; I expressed surprise (and delight) that this was possible for her and she replied that it was important to study all aspects of human life as Allah had created it---so it must be good. Game, set and match!

dectora, London, UK

I'm not english, living in Denmark and I must say, that I'm stunned, how Britain one step at a time, allows more and more radical opinions to be integrated in the daily life.

I see a country with frightened leaders. There is a reason why the period 200 years ago, was called enlighenment. Now you can call it the period of ignorance, caused by a naive point of view, that tolerance of others intolerance must be the pinnacle of tolerance.

Only people without knowledge of the past, would allow for that to be the poltical correct point of view.

For God sake wake up Britain! Churchill would roll over in his grave!!!

Flemming, Copenhagen , Denmark

We cannot let these things happen. Mad ideas from fanatics were allowed to spread across Germany historically. Bit by bit we are allowing ideas of segregation and sexism to spread. We are allowing men and women to be increasingly treated differently and kept apart. We like being human beings together and we like having the freedom to access alcohol in this country - no one is forcing anyone else to drink it. How dare supermarkets allow people to make judgements about us at their tills. What sort of doctor would refuse to treat another? Will they also refuse to treat anyone who has eaten at fast food outlets and mafe themselves unhealthy? Will they refuse to treat the greedy - most of the country who are overweight? We must resist this and protest strongly to any organisation permitting such unacceptable practices which are contrary to all our traditions here.

Robin Bailey, Bournemouth,

WIll the law to be changed to allow me to say that I don't want to be medically treated, served in a shop, or partake of any other service, by a member of any of the numerous superstitious groups flexing their muscles and demanding special privileges/exemptions? Can I demand a different checkout operator if I find the one serving me is muslim, or to be seen by a different doctor if I note that the one I am seeing is wearing a conspicuous cross?

I doubt I will be granted this right to only deal with rational sane people, so until I am why are we granting exemptions to people who live in a fantasy world?

Mark Allen, Nottingham,

The people who hold these views are of course religious radicals, who we mostly consider to be danger to the public. Given that these individuals witsh to or do wish to practice medicine and will have exposure to controlled drugs, may be we should take a hard look at firing them as in breach of their contracts or a refusal to complete their course studies and excluded. How much more do the honest people of this once great country have to endure from a religion not of this country.

Simon Barnard, Reading, UK

Isn't this racism in many ways and the backdoor route to a two system medical establishment in the UK and the fracture of British society. Soon they will have muslim schools on a large scale, muslim hospitals, sharia law in force and inacted in their communities. What a lie this multi culturalism is, many communities 1 system. We should thank the muslims for being the most honest amonst all the minorities about just how much they want to join in with the rest of us. If Britian does not find fracturing apart and becoming city states like that of Italy long ago then that's fine but people should know what the likely future will be and not be misled and have discussion terminated simpy by holding up the 'racist' card. That deterrent to discussion is one I always enjoy confronting now since normally those that use it are vacumless and hoped that such a statement would instantly stop discussion, they have nothing more to back up their arguements with, simple as they are.

Trevor, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

As person of muslim origin, I am disgusted at these "holier than thou" muslim students/workers. This is absolutely insane! If they are unwilling to abide by their responsibilities as future medical practitioners they should be let go.

There are many more deserving students/workers "muslim or otherwise" who will gladly take their positions without any such insane pre-conditions.

Robin Khundkar, Los Angeles, USA / California

I think this is a very slippery slope, a doctor is tasked to heal everything and everyone. They better not let this slide or else other doctors may claim other reasons for not treating their patients and in the end the person that is supposed to be helped by the medical system is actually hurt by it .

Kevin .R, Toronto, Canada/Ontario

To a certain degree, I agree with Dr Simon from Israel. Being a muslim myself I find this totally absurd! There is nothing prohibiting a muslim doctor to treat the opposite sex in Islam. If body parts have to be uncovered then yes a female doctor or nurse is required to assist and vice-versa. With regards to selling of alcohol, yes there is a prohibition "on the selling of alcohol" but naturally if one is to follow logic-upon the aceptance of the job as checkout assistant and being made aware they will be touching alcohol they should ask to be relocated to another section of the store or better still resign.

I wont go as far as saying we are a treat to the civilized world. It is very easy to throw mud on others but you must bear in mind that you will not stay clean for long. Every religion in manner or form thinks it is supreme. It is unfortunate that in the last few years Islam and Muslims have been under the limelight for all the wrong reasons

Faiz Kayani, Glasgow, UK

get them off these courses and give them to people who don't have religious hang-ups about such matters. Alcoholism treatment is a key area for medical practitioners these days, and if they don't want trained in such matters wave them goodbye. I'd vote for any party any time if they have that policy.......and don't even THINK about giving me a racist label !!!

james Mackay, Motherwell, SCOTLAND

The problem with this Country ,that the Government has sold out, is that we are trying to mix races in much the same way as one could try mixing oil and water , it is not going to mix. The fact is that muslims have an entirely different culture to us and yet out Government insists on allowing hundreds of thousands of them in ,when in fact they despise us. Is it only myself that wishes we were back living in 1960 or 70 ??.
God knows why we joined Europe, that was the biggest mistake we made. Now we have not only muslims that hate us but also many criminals from Romania, Bulguria, Albania,Poland etc etc etc and we are strangers in our own Country.
Look at the USA who have just realised and stated that there are so many black people in jail that they fear the following years as there are not enough prisons places. I wonder whether our UK Government has realised that we have also a potentially huge problem in the large number of immigrants who are here. .It is time for Govt action.

Kenneth, Kempton, Bedfordshire

Faith is a personal matter, it must not be mixed with professional nor with scientific issues. A truly respectful, faithful individual must not impose his/her believes and affect other people's way of living. If someone's behaviour is threatening people, that is a criminal attitude and should be punished, no matter if a "religious belief" is claimed as excuse.

Omar López, Mexico City, Mexico

One of the fathers of medicine was Ibn Sina, a devout Muslim who whas also a very compasionate person. He certaily treated women (he used a perforated sheet to examine the part involved and not anithing else, as THOUSANDS of muslim doctors did in the past). And in one of his marvelous medical writings, he described symptoms of alcohol comsumption, and remedies for hangovers.
The reality here is that they are trying to prove a point, that their muslim extremist is much better than our christian beliefs. Great boys, go ahead and keep proving it. You certaily are doing a great job!

Tony Chavez, London, UK

If still students, they should be sent down and not allowed to take finals. It has been a great mistake to be so tolerant for so long of Muslim intolerance and bigotry.

Stu G, London,

I really hope that this is media 'hype'. It is NOT acceptable that Doctors in the UK pick and choose their patients for ANY reason. This opens the door for refusing treatment for any number of reasons.

John, Reading, Uk

I am an atheist but work for an organisation which gives grants to places of worship. If I were to refuse to deal with them I would be sacked. Treating someone for the effects of alcholism or a sexually transmitted disease is not the same as drinking or having sex outside marriage yourself. If someone's religious belief stops them practising the core requirments of their job, they should not do that job. The same applies to doctors with other religious beliefs who refuse to advise women on abortion.

emma, london, england

This radicalism which appears to be sweeping the country seems no more than a replacement for racism. Treating people differently because of the colour of their skin is no longer acceptable behaviour, thank god, so why replace it with a religious fascism. If students find issues in treating sick and ill people who come to them for help…the country still needs plumbers and engineers and they should be directed towards those professions and not ones where peoples lives hang in the balance.

Lyndon, London,

The UNITED KINGDOM is by and large a CHRISTIAN country,as a health care professional,we did not ask these people to train here, they chose to & if they don't like the way we train OUR doctors & nurses they can train elsewhere.

george, cheshire, U.K

According to that reasoning, medical personnel should not learn how to treat people who have been beaten up, stabbed, mugged, raped and a host of other maladies because religiously speaking people should not mug, steal, attempt murder, nor rape.

Mary, Santa Cruz, CA

I am a muslim and work as medical lab officer and when i worked in dubai or qatar we treated everyone regardless of their gender or creed. I think what we have here is a group of misguided people, a sensationalist newspaper article and the howls of angry people some who are genuinely angry and some who can't contain their anti muslim glee.

What's so sad is that majority of the people here seem to think these actions are acceptable by muslims as such. I have lived most of my life in muslim countries and this is the first time i have come across this lunancy

Yusuf, Sheffield,

It is becoming increasingly clear that the civilised (i.e non muslim) people of these island will have to refuse any
dealings with muslims and companies such as Sainsbury's
that pander to them.

John, LONDON,

These muslims do not understand that the Koran tells them to learn about the world, and it includes these things. Learning about alcohol is not the same as drinking alcohol.
These fanatics should not be given special treatment for this ridiculous interpretation of Islam. Only in heaven they will realize that they put words in the mouth of Allah, and that this is the worst Blasphemy.

Amir Almesri, Toronto, Canada

If Muslims are not willing to fully participate in the professional or work roles to which they have elected, then the government should not fund medical education for them nor should they be allowed to practice selectively. Either Muslims want to be part of the modern world and civil society or they shall remain in the regressive time period in which contemporary Islam is stuck.

James, San Francisco, California, USA

Fail them and get them out of the system now! Quit wasting resources teaching those who lack basic tolerance for others and who, by their own admission, are willing to put others at risk because of their own supposed "moral rectitude."

This is about youngsters politically trying to game the British system; it's not about the serious study of medicine by any serious student. To even suggest that the British medical authorities are giving these students' threats any serious consideration would be intolerable to the health and well-being of a nation.

At least, now we can identify those Muslim students who have the potential to be the next suicide bombers.

Scott, Durham, NC, USA

As far as I am concerned these students have commited deliberate FRAUD. They were muslims when they started the the course and knew what was required of them if they passed the course.

The police should be informed as this action is premeditated and deprives other more deserving students from gaining places on these courses. At the least action should be taken to recover the cost of the courses.

Also make all student sign that they undertake to treat all without predjudice.

andy Page, London,

This is religious intolerance to the level of stupidity.
If examining female patients or studying about the effects of alcohol goes against your belief in your faith, then why study to be a pharmacist or a doc?
For the record, I'm a Muslim myself, and sadly, the act of a few intellectually challenged individuals grab the headlines, and paint the Muslims in a bad light (like we needed it).
I'm glad that some Islamic scholars have raised their objections to this kind of behavior by these Muslim docs-in-waiting/pharmacists.
I think Sainsbury's, as noble as their intention was, was wrong to provide these 'benefits' to Muslim employees.

Hifzur, Iowa, US

If a student doesn't complete the prescribed course of study, let them fail. The world needs ditch diggers too... no need to handle pork, alcohol or deal with women in that profession, unless the woman in question is your supervisor.

Jeff, San Francisco, CA, USA

I am a devoted practising Muslim.I am quiet competent in Islamic Law as well.I have to say these so called "Muslim Students" dont know anything about Islam in the first place.
Thay are just novices who are lost in the extreme heartless teachings of Radicals and Wahhabis. Islam is the religion of Love and Humanity.Muslim doctors were the first ones in the history before europeans to develop many new ways of operating and treating patients to the highest standarts of their time. Islam emphasizes the fact that to help someone to cure someone is a great way of acquiring Merits in ALLAH'S eye.
We must have love and affection towards all creation for the sake and love of the Creator, Allah Almighty". Muslim Doctors should be fountains of affection and love towards they are patients. Thay have no right to involve Islam in such a invalid excuse.Shame on them really. I pay for the they see the light and the truth. May Allah guiede us all , Amin.

Ottoman, london,

From the comments, it seems that our country is finally waking up to the realities of Islam.

We view these kinds of cases as just being overzealous extremists misunderstanding their religion, and perhaps that is the case. But it shows how far we've come in bending over backwards to accomodate these West-hating Islamic beliefs: that there is even a vague question about whether these students' beliefs should be tolerated.

The slide towards increasingly tolerating hypersensitive Islamic beliefs into everyday Britain has done us few favours. From the comments, it is clear that British people are fed up with having to tiptoe around Islamic beliefs that are clearly anti-West, divisive and oppressive.

Obviously it's cases like these that make the headlines but are there stories of Muslims zealously helping people, regardless of their beliefs? Of kindness, love, compassion towards non-muslims? Is that in Islam? If not, we need to wake up and 'smell the coffee'.

Toby, Beds, UK

For years this country has been tolerant and show respect
to people of other faiths. Perhaps is time for a rethink. In the context of these Islamic believers, they ought to consider moving to Pakistan, Indonessia or Muslim country where their belief will be embraced. There is no place for people of this kind in this country, particularly, in the NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE, funded by the Public.

a person, lond,

Kate , Caversham, I am definitely not shopping at Sainsbury's again.

A nice piece of retaliation bargaining, go on then I'll join you.

S Boyne, Fairfax, UK

Joe Jones in Birmingham, it's the fault of liberal politicians because they have permitted this state of affairs to occur in wildly politically correct Britain by allowing Muslim immigrants to not assimilate into British society and to live apart from it. They are afraid of being viewed as intolerant and as a result have played right into the hands of the extremists.
Whether your statement about the religious right in the U.S. is true is irrelevant, the two things have nothing to do with one another.

J, Brisbane, Australia

The pandering to Muslims must stop. They need to keep their religion to themselves. The more society makes allowances for them the more they will ask for.

Steven, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Caveat to brewers' draymen - Don't crash near a hospital with a Moslim fundamentalist doctor on A & E.

gwilym rhys-jones, costa del sol, spain

So acording to these fanatics and their Koran, Allah is all merciful, all compassionate. So much for the words of this book of ancient fiction when they discriminate against people.whose lifestyles they disagree with or women. I have never come across a teaching so vindictive, bigoted and rooted in superstition as Islam and these students,doctors and pharmacists who bring this bigotry into the workplace should be told that they either comply with the secular laws of this country or find work elsewhere.

simon , Watford, Herts

This is a case of Muslims "pushing the bounderies". I do not accept for one minute it is anti-islamic to treat opposite sexes or "sin-related" conditions. In Pakistan & Iran, for example, these practices do not exist - you are a practicioner so you practice!
No, this is more sinister - this is political & radical - a small group of self-styled Islamists seeing what they can get away with - once it's accepted it's law - a drip-drip plot. We must tell them, as we did with the idiot schoolgirl who refused to school without her veil, where to get off - be that the benefit office or the port makes no odds to me!

David Hiscoke, Lincoln, UK

They should not be allowed to continue medical duties, i qualfied from Medical School this Summer, I am Hindu and am strongly against Terminations of Pregancy. However the curriculum required me to turn up, so every thursday I scrubbed in to help my gynaecologist with this.

Decleration of Geneva, Hippocratic Oath, GMC, all suggest the patient comes first, you as the clinician come second... do these musims consider themselves to be over and beyond our own bible (or Koran) of medicine???

I take pity on these medical students and their attitudes, anything to get their name in the press, my best friends are muslim, when i met them on the wards today, they were appauled at what this society is transformaing into.

GMC - WAKE UP!!! All clinicians have personal beliefs, do NOT make exceptions for a select few.

If you must, then rewrite the Oath, call it the "Decleration of Medina"

R S, Leicester, UK

This is absolutely ridiculous. It is anti-Islamic to learn...it is against the faith to wallow in ignorance, which is what these abstainors seem to be doing. In the US, we are trying rather hard to not come off as cavemen but these individuals are taking the image back into the Stone Age.

Za, New York,

Can I ask where the Commision for Racial Equality is please?
If this was a white anglo saxon who was saying this no doupt they would haul them into court and pillory them as racial bigots, my, I can't hear a word perhaps they are content to leave well alone considering it involves "one of them".

steve, Birmingham, GREAT Britain

What a load of rubbish, if the people commenting here have any intelligence they will realise that this article concentrates on publicising a tiny number of muslim students who have warped beliefs on what their religion prescribes.

Why even bother writing it? is this yet another attack on muslims by media? I mean when is it going to stop? is it not enough that you have the world believe we are all terrorist killers?

Ask yorself how many muslims practice medicine as doctors and other healthcare professionals in the UK quantify them, and think of how they treat everyone regradless of race, gender, illness. There are thousands.

I can not understand why an article was written on such a small group of extremists who in my opinion shouldn't be allowed to practice medicine unless they change their views.

Being a good muslim is all about being a humanitarian and not judging people, these medical students clearly aren't good at either and need guidance.

Irfan Hussain, London, UK

buy a condom, before i could, now i cannot, why, because of some sainsbury's employee's personal belief, i will either call his superior and see if he or she can sell me the condom or buy somewhere else right?

andy , dublin,

I am glad i am not the only one who feels their blood pressure rising at the thought of britain again bending over backwards to accomodate these social misfits. we would not have these rights in their countries so why do we offer them choices here. anyone not willing to comply should be sent home so we can start to get the country back on its feet.

danny, dover, britain

Can i just point out we don't use the hippocratic oath any more.
Its been out of date for many yars.
We take the oath of Geneva now, any we don't do that until we graduate.

However we get it drilled into us to look at the patient as a person, blinded to colour, race, creed or sexuality.
To do otherwise is to fail the basic ethical test of being a medic. To be fair i know several very religious students at medical (of various religions) and have never seen it affect thier work.
The problem here must be with a very small number of students who should be up for Fitness To Practice (FTP) to decide if they can be carry on.
Don't get too worried though i work with many muslim medical students and i see no difference in thier actions to my own, they use alcohol gel, examine female patients, ask all about alcohol on history etc.
Basically if you get treated by a medic your more almost 100% likely to get treated by one who treats you as they would anyone else.

Damian, leamington spa, England

Please please please, don't let the Muslim madness infect our culture any more. If you can't perform under well established and sensible European rules, get out of Europe and go do your thing elsewhere. What's so difficult about that? See how you like living in Saudi Arabia or Pakistan! Please stop the Islam getting any more foothold and have their backward ways set us back centuries.

Joe Quadrofolio, Amsterdam, Holland

i think its a disgrace that people want to use religion as an excuse to be racist and sexist etc. What kind of country is this becoming.

As a doctor you should put aside your own personal view and look after the interests of your patient. So basically if you are a student doctor and feel you are incapable of treating women then you are not an appropriate person to be a doctor.

As for the pill i think sainsburys actions in allowing this is frankly disgusting, if a woman needs the morning after pill she should be entitled to it. if sainsburys want to stop selling it at all stores then that is fine, but to choose when to do it or not based on the ethnicity of the pharmacist is infact racism itself. I believe this pharmacist falls into the same bracket as the med student where they obviously are not fit to provide impartial medical advice to the public

michael, newcastle,

From the constitution of the Muslim Doctors and Dentists Association UK:

2.1.1. To advance the Islamic religion in the practice of medicine in the United Kingdom.

and

2.1.4 To promote the preservation and protection of the good health of Muslims in the United Kingdom.


http://www.mdda.org.uk/web/constitution.php


All islam, all the time.

Everyone else, too bad.

Is this going to be our future?

S, StopThemNow, US

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

Andrew Goloskof, Tewkesbury, Glos.

Whatever! I, for one, refuse to be touched by a Muslim doctor, or dentist; because, obviously, who among them can be trusted to behave in a professional manner. Ditto any Muslim professional - I will NOT do business with them; frankly, they are the only ethnic group I truly worry about!

If they cannot adjust their behaviour to the principles of European culture, then they must be driven out - Sarkozy is on the right track!

Victor, Nanaimo, BC

It is all crap ... they r just demeaning Islam when they behave like this cause Islam forbids practicing it not learning it!!! there is a difference... There are a bunch of people who misinterprets Koran and think they know it all and spread it while running baseless Islamic groups brainwashing innocent Muslims.

Simi, Montreal,

Very interesting comments by readers. But how come no body reacts when a huge number of Doctors- Anesthetists and Gyneycologists - refuse to take part in "medical termination of pregnancy" not on pro-life or moral grounds but on "religious" grounds. Should they be forced to do it or shall we let double standards prevail?

Tughlaq, Bristol,

The worst part of this latest sorry episode is 'Why do we have to depend on such people to carry out our 'Caring' services'.

You would think that those who believe that their own intolerance is more important than the well-being of those they serve would surley be more comfortable working in a country where the religion and laws of the land are inseparable.

Knowing the curriculum of the training course, if they refuse to complete the entire course, kick them out, present them with a bill for training received, and the 'powers that be' ensure in future that they more carefully select its applicants. The added benefit would be to the poor people of the countries where those individuals or their parents emanated from (the needs of those poor people, whose needs are far more dire than ours, should take precedence over us...

M Luchag, New Town, UK

"At a Sainsbury’s store in Nottingham, a pharmacist named Ahmed declined to provide the [morning-after] pill to a female reporter posing as a customer."

If you are going to complain about medical students wanting to renege on their Hippocratic responsibilities as healers, you cannot also condemn them for not wanting to sell abortifacients - unless you just want doctors and pharmacists to dance like bears.

Kevin, London,

If it's illegal to discriminate against someone because of their religion, regardless of how reactionary and offensive that belief is, it should also be illegal to give any special treatment to a person because of their religion.

As an atheist, I find it bizarre that someone can be let off certain duties, be given time to pray, etcetera, just because they believe in some pre-medieval nonsense.

Steven W, Lancaster, UK

It used to be that Islam encouraged tolerance and education. It is unfortunate that a few seem to interpret the teaching of their religion so that it is very narrow and very intolerant. I am equally disturbed by Christian fundamentalists trying to force biologists to stop teaching the theory of evolution.

If your religion forbids you to do certain things, eg prescribe the morning after pill, then you should not be a pharmacist or a GP in Britain. There are, after all, plenty of alternatives jobs you can do.

You have the right to campaign for changes through politics, but you do not have the right to impose your views on the majority.

Equally you do not have the right to claim you are a victim, because you challenge the system.

I would however ask people who feel aggrieved to read the history of Islam, particularly of places like Islamic Cordoba around 900 AD, which was a great centre of tolerant learning for Muslims, Jews and Christians.

Paul Odtaa, Richmond, UK

I am fed up hearing about what people of the "Muslim" faith will and won't do. I get the distinct feeling I am being morally judged at every turn by the "superior" Islamic faith. Every time I talk to a "Muslim" about my beliefs and relate them through Islam they judge me and look at me with silent scorn. But to be honest the nations of Islam and the practices carried out in these countries are amongst the most abhorrent in the world. The Koran may be a good book but out of the one billion Muslims in the world there are precious few I would aspire to be like. This conceited sense of superiority is just that contemptible conceit and it should be treated as such, throw them out of medical school at the first sign of such behaviour to show that it is completely unacceptable to treat your adopted society in such a contemptible manner.

Chris MacInnes, Glasgow, Scotland

Is the world going mad!?!?!?!?!?!? Where will it stop . . . . .

Bal Jaj, Reading, England

I see two issues here. First, the individual is not selling the product, the company is within the law of the UK. If they have a personal conflict then they have a choice to work for these companies. Second, doctors cannot be selective on whom they choose to treat, I suggest if their convictions are so strong they study and pratice in the countries that support such an approach, it has no home in the UK.

Mark , London, England

Your in higher education for a reason and chosing to pot out of doing somthing cause of religion is by far rediculas.
If everyone in the world used religion to opt out of stuff then we would be living in a world where nothing would ever get done.

Its stupid that people are allowed to use religion just to be lazy.

matthew, sheffield, south yorshire

Training doctors who refuse to complete their studies should be thrown off the course - regardless of race, religion, etc.

Also, Pam has a very short-sighted view - she is missing the point entirely. Does she know, I wonder, how many women die each year due to DIY or backstreet abortions the world over? That's the problem with ideology - it ignores the real world entirely...

susan, devizes,

I so agree with Mark - for goodness sake what is happening to the world we live in. Basically they are training to be Doctors, to help save lives not just those lives that suit them. I beleive in living in harmony and have no prejuidices, I enjoy working and living amongst people from all cultures.

What concerns me is that if this is the new "fad", does it mean that there are already Doctors within the system which could start having this view,? Are they going to stop giving care to people who have sexual transmitted disease or are abusers of drugs / alcohol?

I would like answers by anyone who has trained as a Dr in a muslim country is - do you not cover these topics in your curriculum?

Sy, Penarth, South Wales

'Think of it: Holy Qur'an says that alcohol has some beneficial properties but the harms exceedes the benefits. And my silly collegue (I am also a muslim physician) refuses to learn anything about it. Can we be more religious than our religious book? It's the same for sexually transmitted diseases. You may not approve or practice it, but on which source you found any prohibition to save a person who ever had commited a sin?
For the opposite sex issue, Islamic law has approved to be examined by a doctor from the oposite sex in certain conditions. It must be not more than the needed, briefly. All those things must be inquired from competent ones.
"Every other day that I log on to the Times Online, there seems to be a different story about some Muslims having ridiculous demands. " maybe that's the answer. In many European countries, demands of different religions has to be confirmed by that religion's scholars as whether they are truly religious. Not the mediatic escalation of hatred!

selcuk, ıstanbul, Turkey

Health professionals in all disciplines have a duty to treat everyone, whether we like it or not - and that includes rapists, murderers and paedophiles.

Any medical student who behaves like those descrbed won't qualify, and any doctor who refuses to treat a patient on spurious grounds has to be prepared to take the consequences - being struck off.

The sad thing is that the attitudes of the few tarnishes the reputation of the many hard-working, caring Muslim doctors who help keep the NHS running.

Dr A Neary, Leicester, UK

So lets say, hypathetically that a young white british female has be raped by a known drug user and alcoholic, known to the services to have STD's is admitted to her local A+E.

A male muslim doctor now refuses to treat her because she is firstly female, smelling of drink has been alerted she may have a STD and requires the morning after pill due to her forced sexual predators actions, now your going to tell me that after all this she has to ask for another doctor for any chance of being fairly treated.

This country sickens me, get a life but as said it's the press that glamorises and adds the fuel to many incidents by it's un warranted high profile journalism.

K. Weddell, Edinburgh, UK

As one who partially traces his lineage back to your fair isles, I find this growing trend in the UK very disturbing. Obviously Muslim doctors do not operate under the Hippocratic Oath, an idea borne from Western thought that all life, whether it is male or female, either suffering from alcoholism or drug abuse, is sacred and confirms yet again that Islam is wholly incompatible with Western culture.

Lee Johnson, Atlanta, GA

Weng-Chung Lee, London. That drs after qualification may choose to specialise in an area that does not conflict with their beliefs is reasonable, but here we are talking about training. A doctor has to have a reasonable chance of spotting a particular condition even if it is not s/he who ends up treating it. Opting out or core elements of the curriculum is just not on. As for those who say that we shouldn't give the oxygen of publicity to a fanatic minority, I disagree. Sainsbury's, Boots etc probably gave in to these riduculous demands because they feared being subject to the condemnation of the PC brigade. Only if sufficient numbers of right thinking people shout loudly ENOUGH is ENOUGH and demand that freedom of the indiviudual (of which we are rightly proud in the UK) is balanced with the need to conform to certain core social norms can we expect a reasonable level of community harmony.

Bev, Oxford, UK

HIS IS JUST THE START.

Minority appeasement is the concept which applies here. This is the worst concept of all as a minority is pampered and satisfied at the expense of the Majority. I myself am a Britiish Indian which makes me a minority and do not believe in appeasement policy neither in the UK and especially in India (where it is practiced by Pseudo secular politicians).

Is this a joke? Cant handle Alcohol.

Sikh's are permitted to carry a knife on their person as permitted by their religion (to defend themselves from Islamic jihadists in India who tried to convert the Whole country). BUT NOT one SIKH IN THE World CARRYS ONE IN THE 21ST CENTURY BECAUSE WHAT APPLIED THEN DOES NOT APPLY NOW, BUT THE way things are going it soon will.

IF THE JOB CONFLICTS WITH RELIGION LEAVE!!

Jai, Mumbai, India

Is this SERIOUS?

These Muslims who make such demands at their jobs are in fact the Middle class 'Moderate' Muslims to be honest. If this is the mentallity of the Moderates, then the UK is in trouble within the next decade.

If this is the minds Educated Middle class moderate Muslim doctors then how will it be possible for UK to act against Islamist RADICALS who are the LOUD minority. It's not possible. When there was a demonstation against the war on terror in London thousands of Muslims came to PROTEST.

But where is the PROTEST against Islamic terrorists who commit acts of terror on the UK soil? If they do not condem it by ACTIONS, not cheap words, then they are Condoning it, whilst they sit at hoime on their armchair. Maybe it's because the moderates support the terorrist attcaks as it furthers there cause .

IF job CONFLICT WITH YOU RELIGION LEAVE IT OR DONT APPLY FOR THE POSITION.

LAWS OF THE UK LAND should not be changed TO ACCOMMODATE Religion.

Jai, Mumbai, India

I can speak on behalf of all Hindus Sikhs and Buddists. We are not offended by British culture/Tradition, if we were we would happily leave and move to our Country of origin. We don't force our beliefs on Britain nor do not need to. We also have never lobbied try to change British Society to accommodate our Religions.

If the land of the law does not comply with your religion then go to a Country where it does BUT DO NOT TRY TO CHANGE THE Law of UK Land so your 'beliefs' can fit in.

Our communities are at the forefront of integration into British Society, so much that the word integration is a COMPLETE NON-ISSUE as we are already integrated in British Society.

Whereas the same cannot be said.

Jai, Mumbai, India

To say the article is slanted is ridiculous. It is illustrating that you might just end up with a doc one day that is clearly NOT qualified to treat you. That is what it means. I think anyone who refuses to do his or her job based on "religious beliefs" should be FIRED on the spot. After all, how many baptist ministers do you know who are pagan? You do the job or go get one that does not conflict with your "beliefs". It looks more like a way of drawing attention to onesself, and get out of your responsibilites. I would call them all slackers, and socially detrimental along with all who support them.

Heather, Flat, MO/USA

"Islamophobia" means fear of Islam. It is clearly a rational position.

Nick, Rotherham, UK

If it is acceptable for Muslims to choose who they treat, then it is also acceptable for the patients to choose who treats them. That too goes for being served in shops and supermarkets.

john moylan, Macclesfield, england

Before we all go off on one in berating those Muslim doctors who refuse to engage in medical treatment which conflicts with their religious beliefs, we should all be aware that, in certain circumstances, such behaviour is not actually a breach of standards of good medical practice laid down by the General Medical Council.
Their guidance states the particular circumstances where a doctor can withhold access to medical care: “If carrying out a particular procedure or giving advice about it conflicts with your religious or moral beliefs, and this conflict might affect the treatment or advice you provide, you must explain this to the patient and tell them they have the right to see another doctor.” (http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/good_medical_practice/good_clinical_care/decisions_about_access.asp)

Personally, I do not think religion should have a place in a profession and practice which exists to maintain human life, but I guess this is an area best dealt with by our legislature.

Weng-Chung Lee, London,

Sack them.

If here on a Visa - Cancel it.

If on benefits whilst studying - Stop it.

Let there god provide!

Dan, London, UK

It's interesting to see the number of comments from our Muslim friends. They realise the actions of this vocal minority are at odds with the general welfare of the world. Lets hope these few are put in thier place and our administration take a firm line over thier refusal to carry out basic tasks, otherwise where will it end? Muslim police officers refusing to tackle alcholol related crimes? Muslim bus drivers refusing to carry passengers with alcohol in thier shopping? Come on people get a grip and stop pandering to these zealots, they only do it for the publicity, and if the media stop making such a meal of it they will go away!

Ron Murch, Milton Keynes, Bucks

A doctor should be bound by the GMC's 'Duties of a doctor'. From this it is already quite clear that the interests of the patient and not the doctor come first. If the doctor has a problem with treating certain classes of patients then maybe they shouldn't practice medicine at all. What's next? Not treating people who drive 4x4s because you believe in global warming? Not treating muslims because you don't agree with Iran's foreign policy?

Ad, Hamburg, Germany

"It is not just Muslims who object to dispensing the morning after pill. Anyone with a belief that life begins at conception and must not be destroyed once begun will object." PAM, Surrey

pam, you're so right. and anyone who objects should be ignored. unless the law changes.

jem, london, uk

If we are bold to opt for muticultural socities for good strategic reasons then we must be courageuoe enough to accommodate diversity of values and ethos. The arrogance of a perspective from the past unipolar world to be forced-fit unto everybody just wont do: respect and adapt structures to accommodate diverse sensitivites.

Yaro , Lagos,

The is a ridiculously biased article- designed to stir up hatred. There are MANY doctors- plenty non-Muslim that I know who also refuse to do abortions or sell morning after-pill, and they are within their rights to do so as a medical professional. Its not always about religion, its about ethics.

With regards to the alcohol related issues- people should not enter a profession unless they are willing to everything stated by it- whatever the religion. However, since the article does not quantify numbers, i suspect as usual its prob a handful of people, but has been blown out of proportion because its fashionable to hate Muslims at the moment.

Sam, Manchester,

Muslim medical students refuse to learn about effects of Alcohol and Sexually transmitted diseases. Is this right?

I was shocked to read a Sunday Times piece entitled: Muslim medical students get picky (07/10/2007) which addressed the action of some Muslim medical students who are refusing to attend lectures or answer exam questions on alcohol-related or sexually transmitted diseases because they claim it offends their religious beliefs.

Please read my full blog on:

http://thisisrealislam.blogspot.com/

Real Islam, London, UK

This is the very nadir of muslim madness ... and it's been the deraged Nu Labour idolisers of what is laughably called the Multicultural Society that are condoning if not even advocating such criminal lunacy. Remember what you are voting for at the next elections!

Raedwald, Glasgow, UK

to rom, some of us, britian is our home, as we are born here from english families. did it ever cross ur mind that when u say send them back home, this is some muslims home and they are white english! how stupid of you to say such a thing...

amy, baltimore, maryland, usa

Another example of the intolerant taking advantage of those that do not insist on forcing their views upon others. It was my understanding that doctors and pharmacists are not here to judge us. I am a Christian who does not drink and would prefer that others not drink but the thought that I or anyone else would leave another untreated because of an an alcohol or STD related problem is totally against how we view medicine. And as a religious person we should always consider that there could be a chance to change the behaviour in the future.
These people should not be trained in our medical schools and the pharmacists who dispense only the pills they wish should find another profession.

Darrill, Crawley, UK

I'm a female Muslim student, studying dentistry in the United State, and my religion tught me that there is no shame in education. Islam tught us to persue the highest levels of education we can reach. my believes are definitely against alcohol consuming and promiscuity, but that doesn't mean that I shouldn't be learing about it or how to treat it's effects. there is no gender bias in islam in the medical field for sure. those people who refused to learn about alcohol are definitely misunderstanding the religion. I don't think they were raised in true muslims family who understand Islam. there is nothing in our holy book Quran that tells you not to help or treat people because they are against your believes. that's so extreme of them and they are surly representing Islam in the wrong way. there are so many good muslim doctors out there, and they are trying to do there best in helping every one.

Ghalyah , Kuwait , Kuwait

I agree that those who wish to train as doctors have the obligation to complete all of the coursework and practical internships. They also have the obligation, regardless of religious belief to treat patients for whatever illness they have. To be clear this also includes Christian physicians who object completing training to do abortions done for the health of the woman.

Sara Egere, Saint Paul, Minnesota USA

Now I know why I left England,,, where is there any semblence of common sense and tolerance. The tolerance seems to be all one way.
I was a teacher in a FE college and my every day was teaching students from 30+ countries, equality of opportunity was never an issue, it was the right thing to do. BUT this is plain stupid.

Sanda, Arezzo, Italy

Well, this is the most appropriate fashion to show gratitude to their adopted country!

Martin, edinburgh, UK

They refuse ? Good . If they know the way home, or where they came from, give them a shove in that direction and good riddance. How many more Mickey Mouse countries are going to come over with their silly demands .

bonas 50, Sussex, N.J. USA

It is very disturbing to note that such religious bigots are sitting amongst people like myself and thousands of similar minded professionals who abhor religious interference at work. I am not sure as to what these people are trying to prove by practising outdated religious texts. They should be banned by the GMC for not respecting hippocratic oath and the medical law.

Raj, cardiff,

Completely agree with Mark, Brisbane. Students are well aware of the content of their courses and what there jobs will entail in the future if they choose to undertake a medical qualification. Once again, it is a case of the UK being "soft" on Muslims.

In my opinion, get rid of all the Muslim doctors who refuse to treat patients with sexual/alcohol related illnesses - there are plenty of other doctors waiting in the wings to take over from them.

John, Newcastle,

Please can good sense prevail! These medical students should be referred for training in countries where their religion is practised and once qualified should only be offered positions in this county on the understanding that they treat ALL patients irrispective of their condition with the care and dignity that they deserve.

D Stoten, Surrey,

well, we consumers can vote with our feet when it comes to supermarkets and chemists pandering to religious extremism gone crazy. there are many alternatives - sainburys and boots will lose our custom. just let them know why you choose to take your custom elsewhere.

employees of the state however should be working for the state and nothing else. they should be sacked - and can always move to another country where they can work. i hear there's plenty of job openings in iraq...

paul, london, uk

What puzzles me is, if these medical students are so opposed to even carrying out a routine examination of a woman, their strict interpretation of Islam is probably the version that denies education to females (as many Afghani women know) therefore, if their view were to prevail, there would be no female Moslem doctors and Moslem females will suffer. The many Moslem healthcare professionals I know would never support such attitudes.

Louise, Bexleyheath,

All religion should be respected by everyone. At the same time, all people should respect their jobs and duties. How can a doctor refuse to treat paients because of reglious problem?

Hin, Birmingham,

If you work in any kind of store, you should be prepared to carry out any part of the job that your colleagues in the same position do, assuming (a) it is legal and (b) you are physically able to do it. (i.e. if short people can't reach a high shelf, etc.)

If you want to become a doctor, you take the Hippocratic oath to treat life as sacred. Not just some lives. A doctor who determines that only some lives are worth saving is himself/herself not worthy of being accepted into the profession.

If a medication is legally availble, a pharmacist should have a legal obligation to prescribe it. Next step after the pill might be refusal to supply medications to treat cirrhosis or AIDs because these are "lifestyle" diseases??

I don't care what religion or private belief dictates this kind of behavior; our responsibilities as members of society are to ALL members of society, not just to thosethat share our own views, whether those are Islamic, fundamentalist Christian, or tree-hugger.

Suzanne , New York, USA

Leena from Manchester, I suspect you have never lived in a truly Muslim country or you woudl not be so foolish in your response. When I was in Iran I stayed with a young woman who was training as a medical student, who pointed out to me that as Allah had created veerything it was needful to study all the phenomea of creation. But perhaps you wish to be more msulim than someone from Mashad?.

dectora, London, UK

These radicals should not be allowed to graduate, simple as that, the rules are the same for everyone. This behaviour should not be allowed in any civilised country. Do not give in and do not give them the degree

Ana, london, uk

I am not sure how much more of this nonsense we can stomach.

We are now beyond the thin end of the wedge and this is becoming dangerous.

The multicultural 'experiment' has been a disaster and now we need to somehow put the genie back in the bottle. But how do we do that? Maybe we should treat like with like. Maybe we should refuse to be treated by a Muslim doctor. Maybe we should refuse to shop at Sainsburys, Boots and any other organisation who employ these bigots. A calm and organised boycott leading to a drop in profits would soon see these PC idiots change their tune.

We can no longer rely on our politicians and this would be a peaceful way of really showing our feelings.

Susie, England, UK

as a muslim living in England for the last 27 years, iam appaulled an disgusted with the behaviour of the majoraty of young Muslims nowadays,and I entirely blame the various British govermental and none-govermental bodies in the UK to allow such fanatic behaviour to happen.
there is a lot of ignorance among british Muslims ( of asian origin) in undersatandig Isalm and relying totaly on some Imams coming from far afield to teach them Isam, alas, the wrong and twisted kind of Islam that carries within its fold deep rooted hatred, violance, fnaticism and the most dangerous of all they are (imams) teaching them not only to vehemently reject the integeration in the british society, but to destroy it, it is abuot time for the british people know this truth and for the brtish overment ao act upon it.

imad al-manasfi, orpington, Kent U.K

I can't believe this! Every other day that I log on to the Times Online, there seems to be a different story about some Muslims having ridiculous demands.

Only last week there was the issue of the checkout Muslims at Sainsbury's refusing to sell alcohol, and Sainsbury's catering to their whims. Then there was this weekend when they were refusing to sell the morning-after pill.

I'm just wondering how much further things are going to go, already British people have made many allowances, but this is really going too far and our everyday lives are being affected in a negative way.

Imagine, you go to Sainsbury's to buy your evening meal and perhaps a beer or a bottle of wine, and end up scanning some of your own items at the checkout or waiting for another member of staff to step in because the Muslim at the checkout won't touch it! Or you go the your GP and the male Muslim doctor won't examine that lump in your breast because its against their religion.

Britain is no longer :(

Elise, London, UK

I am going to invent myself a religion that satisfies all my prejudices and conveniences.

Thank God I'm an atheist!

Marcos Gonzalez, Maracaibo, Venezuela

If the muslim doctors have such religious believes and are allowed to graduate, no one in his right mind will ever trust Doctors again.

han, Toronto, Canada

How the hell can this be Islamaphobia? Who started this and why? People will be angry when students start to learn something and then make these ridicules demands. Before there are any childish cries of “Islamaphobia” I suggest that members of the Muslim community put its own house in order. Not surprisingly people are frustrated with the Muslim demands. Where will it all end?

Yusuf, Leicester, UK

I'm sorry, we should only give jobs to doctors who know about these topics, I guess these students aren't seeking jobs as GPs or in sexual health, or in hepatology?

.

Andy, Newcastle,

Ban Musilms from entering Pulic Service agencies. What will happen tommorrow if a Muslim PC refuse to arrest drunkers and Sex offenders? This is just too much.

Pawan Nayak, East Ham, London

Abusing the Koran to have a cushy life? I don't like the thought of Britain sliding back thousands of years to a prehistoric society, protect what little Christianity we still have.

parlau, Frankfurt,

Well, if Muslims that work in supermarkets selling pork and alcohol think their God is happy and won't complain just because the supermarkets bosses have allowed them to have nothing to do with these products, they are deluded. The fact remains that they earn a living by working for companies that sell alcohol and pork. And the muslim students who are refusing to treat patients of the opposite sex in the stupid belief that their religion bans the practice, well, let them go to Afghanistan.

Robbie, Cardiff, Wales.

robbie, Cardiff, UK

There is a clear distinction between a conscientious objection to a particular procedure (such as abortion or providing the MAP) on the one hand and a conscientious objection to a particular patient on the other. A medical practitioner must be prepared to treat all patients. That's basic medical ethics.

It is not just Muslims who object to dispensing the morning after pill. Anyone with a belief that life begins at conception and must not be destroyed once begun will object. That includes many indigenous people of all faiths and none.

The kind of aggressive secularism demonstrated here that would exclude those who wish to defend such life from the medical profession must not be allowed to prevail. It is important for medical ethics that all the medical professions remain representative of society as a whole, religious and secularists alike.

PAM, Surrey,

Muslim medical students are only following the objectives of the Association is Muslim Doctors and Dentists Association UK (the Association) Section 2 reads as follows...

2. Objects and powers
2.1 The objects of the association shall be:-
2.1.1. To advance the Islamic religion in the practice of medicine in the United Kingdom
2.1.4. To promote the preservation and protection of the good health of Muslims in the United Kingdom.

Religion and caring for other Muslims is paramount.
How is this discrimination permitted? Oh yes, the Lefty PC police are in the job.

Read for yourself: http://www.mdda.org.uk/web/constitution.php

Jennifer Daly, Ealing, London. W5,

This is highly stupid!...Why bother studying medicine if your not going to treat people. The whole idea of medicine is to help patients regardless of their gender and sexual problems.
Being Sikh, my religion also states that Sikhs should not drink Alcohol. But then again, any religions says sex before marriage and alcohol is a sin. So why are Muslims allowed to get away with anything? Its about time someone stood up and say enough is enough
It seems they use everything as a tool to say it is against their religion.
They talk about how they are represented negatively within the media and feel secluded from society. But in reality it is themselves who secludes themselves for the UK lifestyle.

Gurdeep, Leeds, UK

What a complete farce. All Muslims should, when applying to take medical degrees, confirm whether they will treat sexual or alcohol related illnesses. If the answer is "no", then they should not be offered a place. For those already taking courses, they should be expelled and made to pay the costs back.

With respect to the Boots and Sainsburys staff who refuse to sell the mroning after pill and alcohol, they should be dismissed.

Sam, Cardiff,

Don't these sad people understand that some medical ailments are interconnected, and therefore, it is beneficial for a doctor treating a patient to have a wide range of knowledge regarding illness, and not just the knowledge of the illnesses that the doctor wants to read about.

One of the drawbacks of a profession is that you actually have to be PROFESSIONAL, and that means doing the job regardless of any idiosyncratic, or religious, habits. If it's beneficial for the patient, surely that should be the requirement for learning it - not if you don't feel it's right to drink alcohol or see a woman naked.

And why do I never get published ?

Folabi L, London ,

As a Muslim medical student in London it is disappointing to read extremist comments such as 'fail them all' and other sweeping comments that seem to want to brand people. Equally, the views and actions of those minority of muslim students that behave in such a manner as described in the article are absolutely deplorable.

They are nothing like the Muslim medical students that I know. All medical professionals treat patients without judging and without prejudice - principles deeply Islamic.

It is preposterous that a male Muslim doctor/medical student should refuse to see a female patient. Not only is this against common sense but also against religous principles - of which helping others is a central tenet. Such refusal is only due to a total lack of understanding of Islam.

Hopefully, those that have commented here will refrain from reactionary branding of Muslims as many have done and see that 99.99% of Muslims - like myself -are in no way like those described in the article

Farakh, London, UK

If you don't want to cook, get out of the kitchen. If you do want to cook, your race, gender or religious beliefs should not matter. (Unless of course the latter suggests poisoning the food.)

JOYCE L STILLMAN, ODESSA, usa ny

My son is training to be a medic , should he refuse to treat the victims of suicide bombings perpetrated by muslims as he doesn't want to know about the hatred that causes these attrocities?
And how much is taxpayer shelling out to train these muslim doctors who chose not to do the whole job. Make them work as cleaners until they have paid back every penny their training has cost.

Mark Potter, Exeter , England

It is typical of the devoutly religious of any persuasion to respond with morality to a purely ethical question.

James , Canberra, Australia.

This is only one in a long string of outrages tolerated by those in power in the UK. Somehow tolerating the intolerant has become a great virtue in your once great country. Wake up Britain before it's too late!

Kip Arnold, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA

As a practicing Muslim doctor in Australasia, I am rather appalled at this level of fundamentalism, the inability to integrate, and the very bad example set by these acts. When they refuse to treat patients on STD/Alcohol-consumption grounds, they seem to forget something of utmost importance: The faith of Islam - which they claim to belong to and know very well - is actually about compassion and mercy. I say that at the risk of sounding "wordy" but it is true, and what I read is sad. Thanks for the space to write this.

Mahmoud el Bably
New Zealand.

Mahmoud el Bably, Palmerston North, New Zealand

PC gone beyond madness!!!.Muslim doctors all over the world treat patients like everybody else does.Do you Brit Mulims learn a version of Islam that everybody else does not know?

A binding agreement to keep religous sensibilities out of your professional life must be in force before you hire somebody. Go work in your local mosque/temple/church run institute if you cannot accept it.

Zac, Bradford, West Yorks

The comment by one person that says "please do not say if that muslim does this, why can't you. Not every muslim knows every rule in his religion well. So don't judge one muslim's action on another muslim. " is both interesting and true. The implication is that if a Muslim knew all the rules he would do exactly what is reported in the article.

In other words it is ignorance of the Quran that allows a male Muslim doctor to treat a woman or a person with a sexually transmitted disease.

In fact this is balderdash. Islam's rules can be interpreted differently if Islamic scholars looked at the calendar and realised that it is no longer 600 AD.

But pious Muslims in Muslim majority regions tend to kill reformers , so Islam needs help from the outside to change.

shiv, Londonistan,

I’m a female Muslim student , studying dentistry in the united states, and my religion taught me that there is no shame in education. Islam taught us to pursue the highest level of education we can reach. My believes are definitely against alcohol consuming and promiscuity , but that doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t be learning about it or how to treat it’s effects. There is no gender bias in Islam in the medical field for sure. Those people who refused to learn about alcohol are definitely misunderstanding the religion. I don’t think they were raised in true Muslims family who understand Islam. There is nothing in our holy book Quran that tells you not to help or treat people because they are against your believes. that’s so extreme of them and they are surly representing Islam in the wrong way.

Ghalyah , Kuwait , Kuwait

Do I have the right to refuse to see a Muslim doctor on religious grounds and freely proclaim it?
I find their bigotry revolting, does it give me the right to offend them?
They have their beliefs and customs contradicting western views (cf recent report about teaching of the evolutionary theory - they don't believe in it, they won't learn it, and they want to impose their version on the rest of the students), what are they doing in the Western civilisation?
Why this group of people is allowed wider rights than the rest of the world?

isobel, Oxford,

This is fine with me, provided the corollary is that I can choose never to be treated by a Muslim doctor. In fact an atheist would be my preference.

If a doctor's judgment is clouded to this extent by their superstitions I don't rate their chances of maintaining the appropriate scientific impartiality.

Sardinia, UK,

If people are in a private company, they can negotiate what ever deal they want. If Muslims, Evangelicals, or whoever arrange with their employers to not sell a product, that is fine by me. As the customer, I can always choose to go to a different store. Licensing exams are more complicated. If the government requires one group to pass a test, it should require all groups to pass the test. Having multiple private groups with different standards could work. Practicioners can stick to the groups that do not violate their morals and customers can select the groups with whatever standards they value.

Joseph, NYC, USA

Whatever the policy may be at Boots and Sainsburys, it must surely be obvious that these students are completely incapable of becoming responsible members of the medical profession commanding salaries of £100,000 plus a year.
Doctors have to sign the Hippocratic oath, which says "Do no harm".
Refusing to treat alcohol-related or sexually transmitted diseases, refusing to supply the pill or emergency contraception, and even refusing to treat members of the opposite sex clearly amounts to dereliction of duty, and will certainly do a great deal of harm .
These bigots should therefore be barred from the medical profession completely.

Dave, Southampton, UK

The question must be asked "Why do these people train for jobs that actually put them in contact with anyone other than people of their own religion, sex or beliefs?"
We have an abundance of people who would dearly love to have their jobs, and be grateful and satisfied.
I think we have all just about run out of eggs-shells, and I for one am sick to death of pandering to these so-called radicals.
The amazing thing is, how many of these people are in business. I note that most convenience stores do no refuse to sell alcohol or condoms. Could it be that although it's against their beliefs, making money comes a little highter-up ontheir moral scale? Bigots and hypocrites.

francis thomas, glamorgan, wales

I'm British, and Muslim, and a doctor. I know a fair few British Muslim doctors. None of us refused to learn parts of the curriculum. None of us refuse to treat certain patients. The GMC, the BMA, and all the Muslim organisations mentioned, totally disagree with this tiny minority of students. That's that.

Sadly, this story has promoted some frankly offensive comments here which generalise about all Muslims. Please switch your brain on, before assuming what two or three people do is representative of all the rest of us.

Name withheld, London,

Political correctness, which seems to be the motivating force behind the action of these students, is grounded on the American Constitution, which has no legal validity whatever in the United Kingdom.

When immigration from Commonwealth countries such as Pakistan began in the 1950's, British subjects who objected to it were accused of "racial prejudice". The current crisis shows that the immigration problem has nothing to do with race: it's a question of a clash between the customs of this country, with which the native British people have been happy for centuries, and a totally foreign social culture.

As an immigrant twice over - half Irish and half Lithuanian - I would urge the Muslim objectors to fit in with the laws and customs of this country. Otherwise they will have nobody but themselves to blame if they find themselves victims of a social divide of their own creation.

Edmund Burke, Kingston upon Thames, England

This Country is becomming a
laughingstock. WE MUST PUT OUR FOOT HARD DOWN AND STOP THIS ABUSE OF OUR WAY OF LIFE; NOW. If we do not there will be anarchy through an ailian form of religious hatred of our Christian ways. Even if these students who have refused their training but do it to get through a pass they must never be allowed to practice in ANY European country ever. They will only revert to their beliefs in practice. In some Islamic states they refuse to educate females. How then do they expect female doctors. This religion if allowed to deveope here will set us back to AD 700. Recent TV documentaries should have put the wind up ALL westerners. The BNP have warned us for years of this threat and I notice that some of their sayings are being taken up by the Lib/Lab/Con. lately. One day ALL the people will vote for them because of the above. B Vidulant.

D Jones, Carmarten, S'Wales UK

This is disgraceful. I may be powerless to do anything about a doctor who discriminates against people on religious grounds but I can vote with my purse. I shall buy my shopping somewhere other than Sainsbury's (roughly £400 per month) and I won't be shopping at Boots in future either. They're not the only ones with "high standards" !

Jane, Durham, UK

"Muslims are reneging on their professional responsibilities."

Strange, but true!

It is better for med schools and companies to take in writing before admitting or giving job offers that each will keep religion and professional responsibilities separate!

What sort doctors these people can turn out to be! Tomorrow, if they feel they will kill patients! Better remove them from med schools and companies. These demands are going to crazy levels!

Rectify these problems immediately before they reach to ridiculous levels and it is too late!

Krishna R. Kumar, Udupi, India

This is just the beginning.

David James, London W6,

So, as a heterosexual medical student - I would have the right to refuse to treat a homosexual one, because I do not share his/her lifestyle?
If I were homosexual would I have the right to refuse to treat a heterosexual one?
As a vegetarian, can I judge anyone who eats meat to be failing to adhere to my moral code, and thus fail to treat them to?
How about those who are obese because they lack the moral fibre to say no to an extra bag of chips?
Can I shun a non-Christian?
There would be planty of time for long-extended teabreaks!
Basically, if these students are morally unable to sign up to the Hippocratic Oath, they should be thrown off their courses at the earliest opportunity. What a waste of taxpayers money.
Medicine is about treating people, regardless of their creed, colour or lifestyle. Those that can't for 'moral' reasons should find another profession.

Alice, London,

There have been some alarmist responses from people who have read the article and put one and one together to make three. The article says nowhere that doctors will be allowed to practice having only completed some of their course. The fact remains that if a medical student refuses to attend lectures or doesn't complete exams they will fail their course.

To prevent those students getting on the course in the first place, interviews usually grill prospective students on things such as whether they would ever refuse to treat a patient. Students do get rejected even if they have the grades because they arn't deemed to have a professional attitude.

Ruth, London, England

I'm going to medical school next year, but several of my mates didn't get places for medicine and are having to apply again. The idea that there are people blocking places on courses that genuinely committed students could fill is sickening. Maybe part of the UCAS application for medicine should include a tick-box questionaire making sure that people know what they're going to have to do before they apply.

Hamish Ian Macdonald, Leeds,

I am really shocked and disappointed to see the UK tolerating such behaviour. Giving way on issues such as being served alcohol or having access to the pill is only going to encourage such behaviour as we are seeing with the more serious and worrying requests of some doctors!

If people want to live in the UK they should accept the UK as it is and should adapt, or else they can go back to where they come from and they can take their beliefs with them.

Never mind about Muslims rights, what about British citizens rights? When I go to Sainsbury's and want to buy a bottle of wine, it is offensive to me that the person at the till may choose not to serve me. I have to ask myself am I really living in Britain or am I in a Muslim country? They have no qualms about forcing their beliefs on others - when I go to Muslim countries I have to wear a veil and obey by their rules, but they seem to be able to come to Europe and do whatever they please, this has to come to an end!

S, Paris,

Easy, fail them. They are supposed to be scientists and should not be influenced by superstitious nonsense. It is a shame they did not admit to this when interviewed for medical school so that their places could have been given to more deserving candidates.

John, Huddersfield,

Most of these people are hypocrits and the more we pander to them the worse the situation gets. There are huge numbers of muslim, Pakistani shopkeepers who are happy to sell alchohol not to mention Christmas decorations, gifts, wrapping, etc. But yet we bend over backwards for the lunatic fringe or more dangerously the lunatic liberals who are so terrified to insult anybody - unless they are wasp that is!! Take a look at the causeway that links Saudi to Bahrain on a Friday night, crammed with "devout" muslims queuing to get into Bahrain for a drink!

David Craig, Glasgow, Scotland

From the Muslim Doctors and Dentists Association constitution (http://www.mdda.org.uk/web/constitution.php):

2.1 The objects of the association shall be:-
2.1.1. To advance the Islamic religion in the practice of medicine in the United Kingdom
2.1.2. To advance medical education in relation to the doctrines, practices and traditions of the Islamic religion.

Pretty unambiguous. The only way to be safe in an NHS hospital is to tell them you're a Muslim.

Ellen Morris, Leeds,

Fail the exam and through them out

Glo, liverpool,

I agree with Mark, Brisbane. Non-Muslims are losing places at medical school which they could have if fundamentalist Muslims were found to be unacceptable.

There should also be a way of monitoring the radicalization of university students. Whose civil liberties are we infringing, anywayy?

leila, manchester, uk

Just another case of a minority maligning the majority, as a Muslim I am fed up with hearing about these cases. As a tax-payer I have something to say about the student who refused to sit his final exams, it costs money to train doctors! My husband qualified a doctor in Pakistan and he is astonished at the attitude of these British Muslims. In Pakistan treating the opposite sex is not even an issue and its also not a problem in Saudi Arabia and Iran the two countries that have the strictest Islamic regimes. As for those Sainsburys workers, well if thats how they intepret Islam then they should not even be working for the supermarkets as ultimately their wages include profits from alcohol sales.

N Khan, London, UK

So much for tolerance and imposition. We had that when large swaithes of people felt that slavery, apartheid, communism or national socialism where culturally dominant. If doctors don't believe in communism should they lose their job? If they didn't believe in eugenics in the 30's, should they lose their jobs? If a conscript doesn't believe in war we should imprison them?
If we can take their conscience out of doctors, can they be more effective instruments of state policy? But what if the prevailing state policy is unethical?

I disagree with the Muslims for refusing to learn, but I applaud them for not wanting to practice medicine they do not feel is ethical. Whether humanist, bhuddist, athiest , Christian or Muslim - it shows they are thinking when they risk their jobs to stand up for ethical principles. It challenges us to consider if we are imposing medical practice that is unthinking in its consequences.

Peter Bricknell, London, UK

Curious and illogical.

If one is unwilling to learn about the effects of alchohol poisoning because one regards using alchohol as wrong, it follows that if one is a practicing pacifist, it would be wrong to learn to recognize and treat injuries caused by violence. The ad absurdum conclusion would be the doctor who is willing to treat nothing at all, because all injuries and conditions can be tied in some way to something he regards as a moral imperfection.

It really is an insult to the idea of healing. The treatment of a condition should in no way be connected to any moral judgement on how that condition was acquired.

Ben, New York,

Is it too much to ask for Doctor who is willing to treat the sick on a medical system that we all pay into? HOW DARE ANY RELIGIOUS GROUP be so arrogant and so pious to choose who they will attend while all the time drawing a salary on the tax payers money? I wonder is it now permissible given Dr Abdul Majid Katme comments ‘Learn about witchcraft, but don’t practise it’.” for Wiccans (yes its a recognised religion which goes back to the pre-christian era in this country) to refuse a muslim Doctor given that there comments have deeply offended us....Perhaps we should take to the streets burning effigy's, waving placards "behead those who offend wicca/witchcraft" No that doesnt happen because years of the politically correct thought police have silenced anyone who dared to voice a disagreement with their views...well congratulations to all you thought police, you now have the Sainsbury's and health service of your dreams...A pity that its most peoples nightmare!

Julien Kelsey, Blackpool, England

It goes without saying that this is insanity, but its interesting that like me, most people here say "fine- then go to an islamic country!". But according to Ed Hussein (former radical) the point for radicals is to stay and to make this country bend to radical islam's rules- he said that is their intention, and every time society bends it is considered a victory in corners like Hezb-ut-Tehrir. This is because for them its considered a step closer to their ultimate goal of a global caliphate (global islamic rule).
On another note - since when did the radicals pick up the anti-abortion angle? NEVER heard of that before this article and I've been reading up on the subject quite a bit recently. It seems like another cynical ploy to ally themselves with some other "moralistic" group to lend themselves social credibility they do not deserve.

Dixie, New York, New York, USA

I went through a similar experience - not in medicine but in finance when I was pursuing my doctorate in business administration.

I decided to focus on capital structure. That is, how much interest bearing loans a company issues to fund its operation. To my wife this was sacrilegious as she thought I was going against the injunctions of Islam for worldly purposes. My objectives were very clear: Islamic finance hinges on capital structure. Without learning capital structure I could not even understand Islamic finance.

Looking back I realize that I had made the right decision as I am able to conceptualize how Islamic financing can be done in today's environment where mainstream finance is at its zenith.

Sincerely
Professor Muhammed-Shahid Ebrahim
Chair in Financial Economics
University of Nottingham

Professor Muhammed-Shahid Ebrahim, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

Why is that only Muslims are cowtowed to in Britain? There are many other religions and nationalities who are not forever banging on about their rights and what they do and don't like about our traditions. Anyone, whatever nationality, should be kicked out of our country if they don't like the rules. There's an old saying - 'if you don't like the heat, then get out of the kitchen'! These students should be told at the very beginning of their studies what their job will entail, and if they don't like it then tough!!

wooram, Alicante, Spain

Correct me if i am wrong but i thought the first reason you become a doctor is because you care about the quality of health of every human being on the planet regardless race, gender, religion and any other difference in that human being. You only have to look at all those highly qualified doctors and nurses that do voluntary work in third world countries, i wonder what they will think about these reports of what is i am sure are the attitudes of a mindless minority of muslims. I feel sad for all the the great number of muslim doctors and nurses that provide proper care and put the patients interests first.

Jack Maz, London, UK

Its not just the Muslims, don't some Catholic Doctors refuse to recommend abortions on religious grounds?

Pete, Gloucester, UK

Billy, a Muslim, says:

"Yes Islam stresses on strong segregation and does not promote free mixing"

Imagine if an indigenous Christian Briton stated that they believed in segregation and didn't like mixing with others whose views they found distaseful!

They probably be arrested and sent on a diversity course.

Why is such blatantly politically incorrect talk only allowed if it comes out of the mouth of a "minority?"

Lee, Worcester, UK

Muslim medical students should stop studying chemistry because there is ethanol aspect to many chemicals, and also about the female sex !! Then they are faithful to Islam, but they are not competent doctors !!! They know nothing about chemistry and only know a bit about males !!!

Samus Islam, Bradford, UK

Dear Sarah you as a good British Muslim please don't try to mitigate your embarrasement by blaming immigrant radical Muslims.Many of these radical Muslims are British born and are second and third generation Muslim British citizens. The starting point is to accept the problem of evil within and then do something about it. It is pointless always blaming others for your plight. Otherwise you will always have to remain in a perpetual state of embarrasement.

Harish Patel, Mumbai, India

I never thought that I'd be siding with the 'send them home' brigade, but surely enough is enough. We have troops dying in Afganistan trying to prevent the re-emergence of religious fundamentalism, whilst giving voice to this nonense here in the UK. If we're talking about British muslims then obviously they are going to stay here, but they shouldn't be admitted to training for a profession (medicine, law or anything else) if they're not able to adhere to the core values of that profession. I wouldn't expect a convicted fraudster to be admitted as a lawyer and equally we can't be expected to train someone to be a doctor who dismisses the female half of the population plus others who happen to have 'lifestyle' medical issues of which they don't approve.

Bev, Oxford, UK

This is no doubt a disgrace and flies in the face of the Hippocractic oath. These students should quite simply be thrown off their medical degree for insubordination. Let's flip the coin here and envisage a group of white British students refusing to treat patients they suspect to be extremists....I'm sure the moderate Muslim community and British Government would have plenty to say about that.

It's quite perplexing how extremist Muslims have a problem with British society, but do not have a problem living in the UK and benefiting from the British education system! The hypocrisy is laughable.

Jennifer, Chehshire,

I must say i am dismayed by what i have read. Being a muslim doctor first and foremost saving some ones life or at least keeping them comfortable is what i have been trained and chosen to do.

I and all of my friends who are all practising muslims would never consider judging people on their sex, sexual orientation, colour or creed. We have been blessed with the opportunity to become doctors and help people to the best of our ability. It is a shame that some small insignificant sections of the community (who are often given the loudest voice by the media) feel the need to blighten the hard work of the majority.

Thankfully more and more muslims are becoming vocal and looking at what causes seemingly well educated men/women often to lead astray.

Dr Shah Ali, UK,

Here we go again...with the bigotry here...but then again.

I am a muslim student. For those who use words like moderate and extreme Islam. There is no such thing, you are either practising correctly or you ain't. If you know the rulings of Islam, be my guest, say whether it is correct or not. But do not use extreme or moderate.

As for these muslim medical students, some of the acts were inappropriate. They must learn everything there is to know about medicine. However, I agree with one male medical student who refused to to practice on a female student as it was unnecessary. However, if she was in a life threatening situation, they must, I repeat again they must help that female patient. Life is sacred.

On another note, please do not say if that muslim does this, why can't you. Not every muslim knows every rule in his religion well. So don't judge one muslim's action on another muslim.

And for those who say go back to your country. I would like to say to you go back to your hole.

Sami, London,

i found this weired and i don't support the idea! then i thought hang on... recently i have read in the news that smokers and obese people have been refused treatment by medical people because they think patients should accept some responsibility for their health when it is "self inflicted".... this surely also applies to alcoholics and sexually promiscues people ... this must be behind their thought when they refused the training/ treatment ? however, i know there are female patients who only wish to be treated by female doctors, one could argue doctors should also have the right to do so.
At the end of the day doctrs are their o save lifes no matter what the illness or what sex.

aejaz, salford,

Actions speak more loudly than words !

Also, I wish other theists, membersof all faiths or none
in teh medical or nursing or pharmaceuticalprofessions
joined the club. Current liberal medical ethics
are really quite reprehensible.
We have an amoral or taboo-free liberal political culture
that needs to be resisted.

Robert J M BARRETT, Lille, France

Everybody should boycott Sainsburys and Boots and any other institution that practices this discrimination. As for the Students insist on a Doctor who is not Muslim. I am sure after this you can say you are not 100% sure of recieving the proper treatment.

George Jones , Ashford Middlesex, England

If I have only one sexual partner my whole life, and have been married throughout that sexual relationship but contract a sexually transmitted disease through no fault of my own, should I be allowed to potentially die because my doctor is incapable of recognising nor treating the symptoms? How is that legal? Why opt for a job if not capable of acting out the duties?

Tom, London,

this is going way too far, im a muslim too but reading this article has made me realise what type of 'radical' or not so radical methods muslims are using to avoid work and study by simply suggesting it is aggainst Islam, now thats barbaric! as long as your not affected personally either by becoming intoxicated or sexually tempted wheres the harm? i work in a predominately white work force and have never ever had problems with them concerning my religion or my views. they respect my religion and vice versa. i understand certain pharmacists refusing to sell 'morning after pill' under ethical grounds but not selling or touching alcohol is like as the above statement read is like refusing to serve non-halal meat, wheres the sense in that. i've always shopped in Sainsbury's mainly because the qualityof their food is far greater than Asda or Tesco and this will not hinder my opinion on them but i think the decision is horrendous.

mustafaa, london,

As a Muslim I know, Medicine is a holistic discipline which extends far beyond the rectification of biochemical changes induced by intoxicating substances. Founded on ancient principles of altruism the physician has traditionally practiced a non-prejudicial approach which is considered a requisite condition in forging a fruitful doctor-patient relationship.

Involved with the “Muslim Medics” society at Imperial College I am appalled by the sentiments expressed by that minority of Muslim students who refuse to examine women or alcoholism. It is important for people with such beliefs to contemplate deeply about a career in medicine as anything can come through the door at any time.

Ad Iqb, Walthamstow, London, England

I agree that those who privilege their religious beliefs over the professional and cultural norms of the profession they seek to engage in in the country they (choose to) reside in should not expect exceptions to be made in their behalf. But it would be inappropriate to think that only some followers of a particular religion present a problem. There are, after all, pharmacists in the United States, who are refusing to make birth control available even to those with prescriptions from their doctor because it conflicts with their christian fundamentalism; similarly, there are students who are refusing to take biology courses that discuss evolution. Also, don't we need to recognize that professional and cultural norms are always contested? In dealing with the problem set by these medical students, surely it would be most unfortunate if something was done which made it seem that there was only ONE way to be a good doctor or to be properly British?

Robin, Berkeley, USA

Dear Lee, I do see where you are coming from, but being a Muslim Brit, to be honest none of my Muslim friends (I have a mix of all people as friends & family including four white Christian in-laws and many friends who are English & European) and family behave in the way you are alluding to in your message above. I agree, any Muslim like the one's in this article should live somewhere else, the rest of us would like to get on with our life, accommodating all people, regardless of their gender, race or sexuality. The problem Lee, is that article above is talking about a minority of the Muslim population, yes you are seeing more veils and outward Muslim symbolism, but papers like the The Times and The Telegraph do like constantly portraying a very negative image of Muslims, that I do find offensive. How about something balanced, like the good virtues of Ramadan this month? Embracing your neighbour, giving to charity etc. The Muslims I know are doing these this month and every day!

Ali Hussain, London, UK

When did Britain become a Muslim country?

Paul Francis, Brisbane, Australia

France has no such qualms. It's their way or the highway. And they outlaw muslim scarves.

Imagine the poor doctor who doesn't want to do this or that on religious grounds...

Jean Naimard, Sainte-Pudentienne-de-Roxton-P, Canada

As a Muslim medical student in London it is disappointing to read extremist comments such as 'fail them all' and other sweeping comments that seem to want to brand people. Equally, the views and actions of those minority of muslim students that behave in such a manner as described in the article are absolutely deplorable.

They are nothing like the Muslim medical students that I know. All medical professionals treat patients without judging and without prejudice - principles deeply Islamic.

It is preposterous that a male Muslim doctor/medical student should refuse to see a female patient. Not only is this against common sense but also against religous principles - of which helping others is a central tenet. Such refusal is only due to a total lack of understanding of Islam.

Hopefully, those that have commented here will refrain from reactionary branding of Muslims as many have done and see that 99.99% of Muslims - like myself -are in no way like those described in the article

Farakh, London, UK

Sadly, the outrage expressed in this forum will have no effect. There is not a single professional body, academic institution or government organization that will reflect the majority view as expressed here. Everyone is too busy appeasing Muslim sentiment to apply an ounce of common sense for the good of the majority.

Instead, we will bend over backwards to accommodate the beliefs and practices of a radical minority who will dictate how the rest of us live in our 'tolerant' society.

If these muslim medical students want to discriminate against me because of my gender, sexual activity and drinking habits, I hope their ethics extend to refusing the money I provide by way of taxation to fund their education.

Welcome to 21st century Britain - where intolerance is at liberty to thrive!

Melanie, Bagshot,

Imagine if a white doctor refused to treat a Muslim because he found the veil and suicide bombings offensive.

Imagine if a white shop assistant refused to sell Halal meat to a Muslim because they found the practice barbaric.

Imagine if a white doctor refused to treat a woman because he he thought they were not as good as men.

How on Earth are Muslims allowed to get away constantly with breaking every politcally-incorrect taboo going whilst we Whites are branded racists if we even dare to stand up for our white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant culture?

I know the reasons so I can't understand why I've just wasted 10 minutes of my life writing this when I haven't got a got a cat in Hell's chance of it being published because I dare say the above comments are deemed "racist."

Whilst if the roles were reversed, the Muslim would just be "expressing his deeply held religious convictions."

Lee, Worcester, UK

I`m a muslim and I would not let them work if they cant live by the law of the land and mix in to a certain extent.

They need to goto somewhere like the middle east. Sainsbury are wrong in offering that facility, why are these people working in a store which sells alcohol.

These same people must handle pork or non-halal meat though the checkout, surely that is wrong too?

They make the rules up as they go along, muslims of today are really a disgrace. Islam says live by the law of the land peacefully.

Going to nightclubs with hijabs is fashion so what can you say.

Imran Ahmed, Birmingham , UK

I too will not be shopping at Sainsbury's until they reverse this lunatic PC gone mad policy. I don't eat meat, wouldn't want to touch it as a checkout operative and so, guess what, chose not to work on a checkout!. As for the workers in question - your logic is flawed anyway. Whatever proportion of Sainsbury's turnover is generated from alcohol sales is represented as a proportion of your wages. Surely it is far more sinful to personally accept money earned from the sale of alcohol than it is to scan a sealed bottle of the stuff on behalf of someone else?

Clive, Sussex, UK

If someone is willing to take the Hippocratic Oath, well they better be ready 2 HELP all in need.
I wud be surprised if some faith assigns MORE importance to keeping 'clean' than to help a women/man in suffering !

Arun, Limassol, Cyprus

Would any one out there care to join my religion? Basic fundamental belief is that I should not be expected to carry out any duties what so ever. Then we can join any profession pick up a hefty pay cheque and sit at home!!!!
FANTASTIC.

Kal, birmingham, ukj

"The religious objections by students have been confirmed by the British Medical Association (BMA) and General Medical Council (GMC), which both stressed that they did not approve of such actions. "

By God, they do not approve???? That will straighten them out, won't it ???? The only thing worse would be to spring into action with otright disapproval and finger shaking !!!

Have fun with your new masters.

Ziggy, USA,

Reading this article and comments brought chills!!! As a woman who likes a drink before dinnerand enjoys sex I look to England as what will or could happen here in Canada. I am always astonished why women and gays are not more outspoken and upset about the dangers of Islam. Our freedoms are so recent and so fragile. I believe we have all become complacent....and incrediblly without values. In a way we deserve loss of freedoms if we are unable to defend them.

catherine maneker, Vancouver , canada

Perhaps we should ban all Muslims from entering medicine and pharmacy full stop! And where is the "ethical" issue from anyway? Why should women be denied the morning after pill because of some Muslim? Or for that matter not get treated by a doctor because they are a woman. I thought this was the UK, not Afghanistan or some other tin pot country. Give them the boot.

Andrew, Newcastle, UK

What an excellent part of the past Labour decade.

Yet people continue to vote for them - why? There certianly must be some hypocricy here, if they can be directly linked to the increased islamatisation of Britian, which surely they are?

Perhaps voting the BNP is the only way forward to rid our country of so many "politically sensitive" issues, but then again who is actually going to vote for them!

Vicious circle

Greg, London,

To quote AllahPundit on Hot Air:

"The article also notes the trend at British supermarkets like Boots and Sainsbury’s to let Muslim cashiers refuse to handle customers’ purchases of alcohol, thus requiring a second employee to be pulled away from whatever he’s doing at the moment and ring it up instead. As David Thompson says, digressing from a wider discussion of who’s to pay for these quirks of religious accommodation and how a doctor with significant gaps in his education can still properly be accredited as a doctor, “I wonder how well a Boots or Sainsbury’s customer might fare if they were to raise ethical objections to aspects of Islamic theology and its practical ramifications, say in terms of apostasy, sexual minorities or the retailing of medical treatments.”

Rob, NY, USA

It is unfortunate when some Muslims forget about the balanced view that Islam holds towards life. The code of ethics adopted the Islamic Medical Association of North America clearly indicates that a Muslim doctor should give his/her patient the best possible care. On page 9 of the IMANA code of ethics , it states that “We do not discriminate against any patient on the basis of their lifestyle.” Similarly, with respect to the treatment of patients of the opposite sex, this code of ethics states, “IMANA encourages but does not mandate same sex health care provider. Examination of a patient of the opposite sex is allowed in the presence of a third person of the same sex as that of the patient. In case of a minor, one of the parents’ presences is desirable. Only necessary examination needs to be done. […] Medical or nursing students may be allowed during examination of a female patient [more]. Rafik Beekun, The Islamic Workplace blog at http://makkah.wordpress.com.

Rafik Beekun, Reno, USA, Nevada

They are turning the UK into a joke!

Alex., Edinburgh,

If they want to practice the medicine of the dark ages they should try for a land that still exsists in those times!

Lila Joseph, Weert, The Netherlands

If handling the morning after pill, alcohol, or seeing patients they (for whatever reason) don't approve of, is contrary to their faith, these people should live up to their principles and simply refuse to work in the professions that offend them: be that profession a check-out clerk or a doctor. Otherwise there is not princliple involved here (but plenty of hypocrisy).

Inna, Sacramento, California/USA

Completely ridiculous.

I'm a young muslim female and I'm so angry at these so-called muslims behaving this way!

It gives us all such a bad name. All I can say is that I implore people not to tar us all with the same brush.

There are many muslim doctors out there who would not behave so utterly stupid, I'm sure of it.

Nazia, London,

I don't know about Islam, but I'm Jewish and in my religion, saving a life ALWAYS comes first. Even if it involves breaking the Sabbath. Human lives are important and must be preserved. And if these people put their religion above saving life or healing people, they should consider getting another job.

Lotte Holmes, Manchester, UK

Bye-bye England!

Nice to know you, and thanks for Western Civilization!

Denis, Harrisburg, USA-PA

I am shocked at this article. It harks back to a time when you would see No Dogs, No Blacks, No Irish in landladies windows. Is this what we are to see in doctors, instead of checking if they take NHS patients we will be checking the window signs - No Women, No Alcoholics and No STD's.

Who will they treat? Muslim men. Why are they studying at someone elses expense a career in which they cannot participate fully.

This is not about the war on terror. This is about a radical group believing they can treat others in a way they would be screaming racism if it was done to them.

I hope the students involved are not able to complete their study. Stamp this discriminatory behaviour out NOW.

Charlotte Hardy, Gomersal, UK

In a secular state no public institution should make *any* concessions based on religious (or "ethical", as the euphemism goes) grounds. Society has more to lose from going on such a slippery slope than to gain from these dubious individuals. They have of course all the rights everyone gets -- but also all the obligations, and it is up to them to make a living as they see fit.

Tiberiu, Vancouver, Canada

I am 51 years old, son of a Church of England cleric, living and working in Azerbaijan for several years. The country in which I grew up has by and large disappeared and we now, it seems to me from a distance, have a more integrated, tolerant and adult, less deferential, society than existed when I was growing up. I therefore fail to understand why the views of a minority,who clearly seek confrontation, should be allowed to dictate to the moderate majority how we should live. I was brought up to view religious belief as something personal, between the individual and their God.In Azerbaijan, when I talk to co-workers about my total lack of belief in any God they react like adults and accept my decision. Most of them are practising Muslims. Why does the UK allow the radical, self-important, non-representative Muslim minority in Britain to have such publicity? Time to say enough. None of us has the right to ask for special treatment or to impose our beliefs on others. That is Fascism

Tim, Baku, Azerbaijan

I am a Muslim and know that Islam is a logical religion that does not prevent any Muslim from treating anyone who has any illness related to alcohol or anything else that Islam may not necessarily agree with.

Yes Islam stresses on strong segregation and does not promote free mixing this however does not mean that Muslims are not allowed to hold conversations with people of opposite sex or are not permitted to treat people of different sex.

If we look historically we see most women including the wife and daughter of the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) treated men during the wars and acted as nurses. In fact women would carry the injured men from the battlefield in order to treat them. Saving life in Islam is of great virtue let’s not ignore the verse of the Holy Qur’an (Muslim Holy scriptures)
‘Whoever saves a human life it’s like they have saved the whole of mankind’.

My advice to Medical students is: ‘treat your patients, it is important to know how to treat any type of illness and do not use Islam as an obstacle because it is not. We have many Muslims in this profession and need more professionals.’

We need to show our society that we may have certain beliefs,
but we are not a religion that can not co-exist with others.

shaf, Derby, Derbyshire

Religious views deserve absolutely no concessions. Refusing to carry out any aspect of your work, within your job description, on the grounds of 'conflicting with one's religious beliefs' is absurd! Tolerating such ridiculousness is equally absurd. If you want to believe in some fabricated all powerful being, fine, do it on your own time. If your religious views conflict with your job, get a different job. I fail to see why anyone should make exceptions because someone thinks a said action my upset the Almighty. Get a grip or get a different job.

BIlly, Cambridge, UK

So let them fail and kick them out of the country. Why is this so difficult?

Pedro, Campbellsport, USA/WI

WHAT A JOKE.

These Muslims who make such demands at their jobs are in fact the Middle class 'Moderate' Muslims to be honest. If this is the mentallity of the Moderates, then the UK is in trouble within the next decade.

If this is the minds Educated Middle class moderate Muslim doctors then how will it be possible for UK to act against Islamist RADICALS who are the LOUD minority. It's not possible. When there was a demonstation against the war on terror in London thousands of Muslims came to PROTEST.

But where is the PROTEST against Islamic terrorists who commit acts of terror on the UK soil? If they do not condem it by ACTIONS, not cheap words, then they are Condoning it, whilst they sit at hoime on their armchair. Maybe it's because the moderates support the terorrist attcaks as it furthers there cause .

IF job CONFLICT WITH YOU RELIGION LEAVE IT OR DONT APPLY FOR THE POSITION.

Secondly DONT TRY TO CHANGE THE LAWS OF THE UK LAND TO ACCOMMODATE your 'beliefs'.

Jai, Mumbai, India

How come everytime Muslim is raised in conversation it is siad "lets send them back to their country of origin"
Please wake up we have been in Britian for two/three generation now. Lets just clarify one point this is pure religious ignorance and the muslim students shouldnot enter in to a profession they find at odds with the religion. There are thousands of Muslim doctors out the working for the NHS and treating patient with all kinds of disease.

This is definately Islamaphobia

Leena, Manchester,

I'm a muslim student and quite frankly I find this irresponsible behaviour extremely stupid! Once again there are more "radical" muslims shaming the nation and causing trouble.....this has nothing whatsoever to do with Islam but just the wishes of these childish medical students.

Saving a life, which is considered sacred in Islam, should be every humans first priority. Step One of that, is making sure people are healthy and providing medical help to all!

Kick them out of Britain....i'm sick of immigrant radical muslims embarrassing me as a British muslim! If they are British, they need to learn how to behave like so.

Sarah, London,

Simple: if they are (deliberately) incompletely trained then they cannot be classed as doctors, and may not practise in this country.

Having wasted a lot of taxpayer's (my!) money in gaining half a medical education, they should be forced to repay it before going elsewhere!

Future students should sign an agreement agreeing that they have been informed of, and accepted, what a medical education entials - no signature, no money wasted on them

Mike Bibby, St Albans, England -not EU

The degree of ignorance of these Muslim radicals is only surpased by their stupidity. Treating sick people is a noble and holy right. Refusing to study and treat on religious grounds must be contrary to their faith. These poor souls are obviously disillusioned and brainwashed. Sack them, kick them out but above all watch them closely- they are a real threat to civilized people.

Doctor Simon, Karmiel, Israel

So Mary in Winterville if this mess is due to "liberal politicians" how do you explain the refusal of some evangelical Christian pharmacists in the U.S. to dispense birth control, including the morning after pill, and the fact that this is supported by some on the American right?

Joe Jones, Birmingham, UK

if you are not willing to carry out all the requirements of your position then you simply should not hold that position. regardless of faith etc - you must do what the patient requires, regardless of how you feel about it!!

lorraine, Glasgow, UK

Religion in Med School??
Well it's easy. They don't pass exams and get chucked out. Simple. PC gone mad!!!

Austin, Manchester, UK

It goes to show how devisive religion really is. To refuse to treat a person suffering with cirrhosis of the liver alcohol induced or to treat a woman suffering with pelvic inflammatory disease caused by chlamydia shows a complete lack of compassion. This can also be seen as discrimination for they are making distinctions and refusing to tolerate that there are persons different to them. It is not a religious belief it is Apartheid. I love my drink and also enjoy sex very much and so from now I will refuse to be attended to by any Muslim on grounds that I am an Infidel and I am different from them.

Frank Williams, Derby, England

If the job offends one's sensibilities, then don't take the job. Quite simple really. A stand must be taken. If a doctor refuses to treat someone who has an alcohol related illness or injury then he or she is simply not fit to practise. If a doctor refuses to treat a dying patient simply because that patient happens to be a woman then he clearly is not emplyable within our health care system. There are certain minimum standards in this country which must be maintained. If that means an otherwise potentially brilliant doctor has to follow another profession, sobeit. Can someone who, potentially, will stand by whilst your mother, sister or daughter dies because touching her offends his sensibilities ever be allowed to practise medicine however genuinely held such beliefs may be?

Max Trotbridge, Chesterfield, UK

There is an emergency requiring a medically trained person to assist a medically damaged victim in a remote location.

There follows a question and answer session as the "doctor" and "patient" decide whether they are compatible.

Fantastic!!
Isn't the 21st century great?

DavidN, Melbourne, Australia

dear god. Do these people not realise britain is NOT an islamic country, never wil be, and that if they are so radical and opposed to such things as drinking etc wy they do not live in a muslim county where they wouldhave no problems. It is pure prejudice against british people in their own country. We do not impose our catholic or other beliefs on you in muslim countries, so please stop doing so in ours

melissa, london,

Well, let them fail the exams then. Where's the problem?

Matt, Wuerzburg, Germany

Give them a free plane ride back to their country of origin. If that happens to be Britain, make them work in Glasgow.
Job done.

Killemall, Southend,

I believe the students should be failed. First they are training for the wrong career. The whole bases for being a doctor is treating individuals without prejudice.
Secondly they should only become a qualified doctor is you can complete all the training.

Tim, Southampton, Uk

It must be nice - as a trainee barrister we have to comply with the cab-rank rule no matter who the client we take them on - its all about showing impartiality, fairness and being non-discriminatory. I am religious, just so happens that is tough luck at the bar - FAIR ENOUGH. If you won't do the work don't apply for the job. Simple as that. This is how this country work, it is how society works and it has done so for a very long time. It is necessary to respect peoples opinions and beliefs but if you hold one of a nature that prevents you doing something - don't apply to do that task.

L Wilcox, Nottingham,

Fire them! What is there to even think about. If they choose not to abide by the law then fail them and send them back to wherever they came. Refusing to sell alcohol?!? Fire them! Cut off govermental payments like unemployment. Make them pay for thier schooling they have wasted and THROW them OUT.

Wayne M, K'Port, Maine USA

This whole thing has become totally absurd!!

If "Muslims" choose to observe "Muslim" practices, they must go to live in a "Muslim" country!

Why should the Taxpayers pay to fund their degrees.

How many of these "Muslims" are, in fact, "White British", and playing the system?

Tony J, Swanage, UK

How stupid does this sound?
I work in a supermarket but I won't sell booze?
I want to be a doctor but I won't treat women?

How did this country even get to the state where these people are not simply given the boot?

John Cornell, St Helens, England

This is outrageous, and must be stopped! I have had the experience, as external examiner at a university, of having a successful female Muslim medical student refusing to shake hands with me, because I am a man. Would she have refused to treat me if I'd been run over outside her college? As Kevin Broad says, so aptly, sack them and let them go back to to Saudi or Pakistan, and practise their bigotry there.

John Nicholson, Hampton, Middlesex

And recently we read of a muslim dentist in Manchester (from a hardline family) who refused to treat a muslim woman because *he* did not approve of *her* not wearing a headscarf.
End.This.Lunacy. NOW.

WeAreNotAmused, Leeds, W Yorks,

This could be the way forward for the NHS - why not introduce full sharia law into all UK hospitals and dramatically cut waiting lists by stoning any offensive patients to death.

Emma Chambers, Paris,

If I were to state that I did not want to be treated by a muslim Dr what would happen then - would I be arrested .
This is a so called Christian country if they do not wish to abide by our principles ( if we have any left that is ) then leave . Would we be allowed such a dictatorial attitude in any muslim statet/country I think not

s munro cole, birmingham, west midlands

If they refuse to attend certain lectures and refuse to answer certain exam questions then penalise them. Surely if, when sitting an exam, you don't answer a question this is reflected in your final mark. The same principle should apply here. But it probably doesn't, in the name of 'equality'. Will these 'students' refuse to treat cases involving alcohol or STDs when they become qualified? Will some doctors refuse treatment on ideological and religious grounds and possibly even only treat Muslim patients? Don't laugh, it's not that far fetched. These refusing radicals should be booted off their courses. After all, it's the taxpayer who is funding them. If they can't honestly swear the Hippocratic oath then how can we expect them to become doctors?

Michael Anthony, Birmingham, United Kingdom

Is there anybody at all, of any race or religion, who could possibly have confidence in a 'doctor' that is prepared to pick and choose which of his patients and which of their illnesses he is wlling to treat?
This news item begs the question, why on earth have these bizarre people chosen to train for the medical profession in the first place? If I had serious reservations about beer then I wouldn't apply to a brewery for a job. If I considered gambling to be wrong then I wouldn't be working at Ladbrokes.

rocal, Yorks, U.K.

As for these "doctors" - what happened to the hypocratic oath? It is okay to let working women ( also against your beliefs) taxpayers subsidize your studies but you refuse to examine them. Another example of hypocrisy and the double standards of being willing to take from you but not give back to the community. This is the essence of how these people have twisted their faith to serve their own needs. What next - I won't treat you because you are Christian. Maybe this is why there is so much negligence in the NHS, with these "doctors" some patients lives are not valued as much as others?

Wil, London, United Kingdom

I enjoy a drink and I am now worried that an Islamic doctor would fail to notice any alcohol related health problems as he skipped that part of his training. Can I refuse to be treated by a Muslim doctor?

Alan Trent, London, UK

I am also amused by these holier-than-thou Islamics. I worked in a hospital in Saudi for 2 years and was (initially) amazed at the number of Moslem alcoholics and at the variety of diseases usually associated with homosexuality, which I had not encountered in English hospitals. I think that the tolerance shown by the British government to medics who have such a selective approach to medicine is extremely foolish and rather dangerous.

Angela Fielding, Lancashire,

So what is the next step - they refuse to attend lectures by non-Muslims or work with non-Muslims or treat non-Muslims?

Well, with all the mosques going up in England and the closing of the churches it won't be long until that won't be a problem. England will be primarily Muslim in less then 20 years and once in power they will enact Shari'ah. After that you'll all be Muslim or dead.

You can thank your liberal politicians for this mess!

Mary, Winterville, USA

I don't think this is a step in the right direction. Doctors shouldn't be allowed to pick and choose who is worthy of treatment or use their beliefs as an excuse to neglect their duty of care to the sick.

Any moves towards a healthcare system that blames the patient and refuses to treat illnesses "you bring on yourself" needs to be resisted.

B. Blake, Leeds, UK

It may well be that prior to entry in medical courses it becomes necessary for candidates to express whether they have these issues. Frankly, if they cannot do everything a doctor needs to be able to do, they are better off doing something else. Find this out before wasting time and effort teaching them in the first place.

Tigs, London, UK

How can Mulims practice modern medical science when their primitive beliefs prevent them from fulfiling their responsibilties to their patients? How do they know a patient suffers from the unacceptable illness unless they examin them? Muslim students should be compelled to sign a contract of full commitment BEFORE they start thier courses and prevent them wasting their time and everyone elses. Holding such beliefs regarding selective learning does not make sense for them commence the courses in the first place. Just more distorted Muslim beliefs?

Bernard, Oldham, Greater Manchester

Making exceptions on these grounds compromises the fundamentals of medical professional training. Furthermore the hippocratic oath also obliges all doctors to treat ill patients irrespective of their gender or type of desiese. Muslims organisations must strongly condemn extremist views otherwise the public will generalise and mistrust all Muslim doctor in regard to their professional standards. And what about Patients' rights then to reject treatment by Muslim doctors? There no need to let this deveolp into a nightmare for the NHS and medical profession. Just fail all students that do not comply with UK/EU medical training requirements.

Anil Mull, Bournemouth, UK

It is not only medial studes that are under attack. History is up for grabs too: From Trevor Phillips suggesting that children be taught the Turks actually alowed England to sink the Spanish Armada, to the History of the Holocaust not being taught for fear of offending Islamic pupils in schools.

Do you really find it that hard to join the dots between the President of Iran calling for Israel to be wiped off the face of the earth and Islamic doctors failing to treat Jews in the UK?

Who do you think they are going to go for once they nuke Israel? I suggest you learn to defend yorselves.

Zen, London,

This nonsense must stop! We do not live in the middle ages, and religion is no excuse for such biggotry and stupidity. If only half these stories are true these people are causing problems way beyond their importance. If you don't like what a job entails GO AND DO SOMETHING ELSE.

As a fair minded, tolerant atheist their behaviour offends me. Religious beliefs are a personal matter and they have no place whatsoever in affecting social intercourse.

This country is a laughing stock

Mike, Lancaster, UK

If they do not want to do the job sack them, and make them refund the cost of their training. Do they also refuse to clean skin with alchohol?
Next thing will be contraceptives will not be sold by Catholics

Mike, Paphos, Cyprus

For over a hundred years the British establishment and the media used the Muslims to screw non-Muslim India. Now the chickens are coming home to roost! and believe me it is only going to get worse. And as a liberal democrat it gives me absolutely no pleasure because in my experience and that of most Indians I know the vast majority of the British people are a highly civilised and tolerant people and have given more to the world than any other people in the world.

Harish Patel, Mumbai, India

I am definitely not shopping at Sainsbury's again. Checkouts at weekends take long enough without waiting for the additional time it takes to call another staff member over. If some people don't want to do their jobs, they should find a different job. And if they dislike the UK culture so much that they cannot function or be happy within it, they should live in a country which suits them better.
In an additional point - are the Muslims concerned also refusing to sell non-halal products? Surely this is the logical next step.

Kate , Caversham,

For any sane country it should be quite easy to handle this .But obviously for politically gone crazy Britain it is not!
They do not want to answer questions on alcohol- abuses in medical exams? Ok, let them fail and send them home. They don't want to sell alcoholic beverages, or the morning-after- pill , ok, sack them and send them back to their own countries.
You know that they don't want to treat women, or sexually transmitted diseases, or jews, do not hire them in the first place. Btw, a few years ago, a muslim physician refused to treat an old man because he was jewish. The old man died. What happend to this "doctor" in politically gone crazy Britain? Does anyone know?

rom, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

I can't believe how seemingly intelligent people can behave like village idiots. Sainsbury's decision gave power to these ignorant fools, don't let this encroach into other institutions. Religion is a matter between a person and their God. As for alcohol and the morning after pill, if these are legal arftefacts of a society then a person must abide by the rules of the land.

Don't let political correctness blind our freedoms for the sake of a few people who are not able to think for themselves.

HHasan, London,

Another example of "the thin end of the wedge" clearly there should be no concessions by supermarkets, chemists hospitals etc. to this creeping Islamisation of our culture. We must stand firm and reject these radicals. Let them find another job and if this country of ours offends them they should go to a country that supports their beliefs.

Brian Girling, Fareham, Hant

@bsamways
<In Saudi, alcohol and sexually transmitted diseases are probably the biggest cause of avoidable early death.>

Early death because of death penalty? If not, who treats them?

I think it is a provocation to polarize the muslim community into those who are "real" muslims and those who are not. Given the choice, guess what most muslims would chose...

One of the results of this mechanism are female muslim doctors wearing the burqa, as some already do in Germany.

Bodo, Cologne, Germany

Let us be grateful for the common sense of such as Dr. Abdul Katme. May his opinions prevail in the IMA!

Gordon Cardew, NORWICH, UK

The Muslim trainee doctors who refuse to carry out duties based on their religion do not know their religion. I worked in Saudi Arabia and had many doctors as friends they had no problems treating women. I suguest these trainee doctors should be given a training course on the matter and if they still refuse fire them.

Kieran, Tokyo, Japan

Fail them all.

Mark, Bath, England

Being British and living outside the uk i find it totally amusing that the uk is tolerating such stupidity from a minority of muslims. If they dont want to carry out the terms of the job, sack them and let them get a job back in saudi or pakistan.

kevin broad, sanur, bali

Ah the supposed prohibitions of the Islamic faith, what next? refusal to treat some one because of their religion??
I suggest that anyone who has reservations of such should either not be allowed to practice in the UK, or only hold positions where they are under direct supervision.

Crooks, Abu Dhabi,

Having worked in hospitals in Saudi Arabia, I find it quite amusing that British Muslim doctors would refuse to treat alcohol and sex related illnesses. In Saudi, alcohol and sexually transmitted diseases are probably the biggest cause of avoidable early death.

bsamways, London, UK

Clearly al students should be asked to confirm that they will complete all of the requirements of a course, and if they cannot do that then their enrolment should be cancelled. The same should happen if they refuse to complete a course part way through. To do otherwise would be to waste money better spent elsewhere.

Relgious belief is fine but if it means that a person cannot perform the inherent requirements of a role (i.e. they cannot treat patients effectively) then they need to do something more appropriate for a living.

Mark, Brisbane, Australia