New York Hasidic Women Want Separate EMT Unit

[dawn9476]

http://www.npr.org/2011/12/18/143709636 ... e-emt-unit

 

They want female EMT's since Hasidic men and women are not allowed to touch unless they are immediate family.

[Alecto]

http://www.npr.org/2011/12/18/143709636/new-york-hasidic-women-want-separate-emt-unit

They want female EMT's since Hasidic men and women are not allowed to touch unless they are immediate family.

Aren't there already private Hasidic ambulance services?

[Crackedeggs]

There are private busses, I know that.. Not sure about ambulances.

[Buzzard]

They want to be able to treat women for "women" issues. But yes, there are already hasidic EMTs

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5226&hilit=brooklyn+jewish

[chiccy]

There are private busses, I know that.. Not sure about ambulances.

Yes, they do have a private ambulance service with EMTs. But the idea that Hasidic (or Jewish) women aren't allowed to be touched by a man other than their husband is nonsense. Torah is very clear about allowing doctors of either sex to do anything medically necessary to a woman or a man, especially (but not only) when a life is at risk.

ETA: I looked at the article and it is a lot more specific (and understandable) than what the OP said. The Hasidic women want to organize a separate, female unit within Hatzalah (their ambulance service) specifically for delivering babies and other sensitive situations. But that's a preference that probably stems from the extreme sensitivity to extramarital male-female closeness of any kind that is cultivated in that culture. It is NOT because of anything that their religion dictates they are "not allowed" to do.