A female patient being alone with a male doctor

Q: Any Muslim woman can fall sick and need to be physically examined, but sometimes there are no female doctors to examine her. As a result, she is referred to a male doctor to carry out this task. Does Shari‘ah (Islamic law) permit Khulwah (being alone with a member of the opposite sex) between a male doctor and a female patient? Does it forbid her Mahram (spouse or permanently unmarriageable relative) from accompanying her on the pretext that there is an unveiled nurse with the doctor and the Mahram's presence will require her to be (Part No. 24; Page No. 422) veiled before him, although the doctor himself is non-Mahram to the nurse? Does Shari‘ah approve of preventing the Mahram from being present while the doctor is examining the patient because of this claim? Does it permit Khulwah between the male doctor and the female patient or is the presence of the Mahram necessary? Please advise, may Allah reward you.

A: It is not permissible for a male doctor to be alone with a female patient to medically examine her. Her husband or Mahram must be present while she is being examined.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.