The Shafi’i considers the presence of a Muslim female doctor who is not a specialist on the disease as non existing. In this case, a Muslim woman may resort to a non Muslim female doctor or to a Muslim male doctor. If the physician is a specialist on the disease, but the bill is exorbitant, then it is also considered as being absent. So, it is permissible for the woman to resort to other than this Muslim female doctor, and she may also consult a Muslim male doctor.

If she does not find a Muslim doctor at all, then she may go to an unbelieving male doctor (a non Muslim doctor) only if she trusts him. Whatever the case may be, she must have her husband or mahram with her.