In a case of medical versus religious views, a Saudi Arabian man shot a male obstetrician who helped his wife deliver a baby, arguing that the doctor had no right to assist in his wife’s delivery, rather a female gynecologist should have been present.
Dr Muhannad Al Zabn, who has a Jordanian father and a Saudi mother, delivered the baby one month ago at the King Fahad Medical City in the Saudi capital Riyadh.
According to local Saudi news site Sabq, “The father went to the hospital and told the doctor he wanted to see him to thank him for helping his wife with the delivery of the baby.
The two met in the garden of the hospital and during the conversation, the shooter took out a gun he had concealed under his clothes and fired at the doctor.”
After the shooting, the Muslim father fled the scene, just as medical personnel rushed the injured-doctor to the intensive care unit.
The shooter was later arrested by the police.
A spokesperson for the hospital, Bassam Al Buraikan, confirmed Dr Zabn had been shot, though his condition was stable.
Bassam also said an investigation was underway by security officials after evidence had been collected from the scene of the attempted murder.
Opinion on the matter is debatable as some social media users showed support for the obstetrician and expressed sympathy, just as others argued that women gynecologists should be available to deliver babies to avoid cultural clashes.
One observer, Girish R Edathitta said, “The shooting of a male doctor who attended his wife in delivery revived a debate on the subject as to whether the presence of male doctors and Para Medical staffs in delivery room cause some sort of discomfort to pregnant women and their relatives.
Those who are supporting and opposing the action of the husband have their own logical arguments.. But the fact is that some male doctors obtain greater expertise in gynecology and famous in their profession.”