London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A 91-year-old Sikh man’s beard was trimmed without approval at a London hospital, leaving his family distressed. The hospital has issued an apology.
The incident occurred on Thursday morning during a routine assisted bath at a prominent hospital in West London.
His family stated after a mild stroke, the vulnerable patient became unstable, which left him incapable of communicating and sometimes unaware of his environment.
As reported by BBC, the hospital whose name cannot be disclosed for safety reasons stated in a statement,
“We are deeply sorry and are taking this matter very seriously; this was a genuine mistake and are now working closely to support the patient’s family.”
In the Sikh religion, hair has high regard, with the Rehat Maryada, or Sikh code of conduct, prohibiting the cutting or shaving of body hair for those who are initiated.
One family member from West London, Keisha Sethi, expressed shock, stating she was “gobsmacked” upon seeing her grandfather without the beard.
Ms. Sethi added her aunt was crying, her father felt annoyed, and if her grandfather could have reacted, he would have been “furious.”
The Sikh man has spent four in the hospital, and his family members visit him on a regular basis.
While expressing her sense of helplessness, a man’s family member urged that everyone’s belief systems be respected and ensure that equal treatment is provided, no matter the person’s ethnic history.
She pointed out the area’s ethnic diversity and expressed the hope that staff would be trained to respect others’ religious beliefs.
A relative, who wished to stay unnamed, shared they were “devastated” and “hurt” after finding out this had happened to a man who had maintained his hair for more than 90 years.
When nurses had previously asked to cut his hair, they responded with a firm answer, “No.”
The family, waiting in the corridor outside the room, were informed that his beard had been cut because food had become trapped in it.
The hospital staff, including doctors, stated apologies, while the family expressed understanding of their intentions but felt that, due to their religious and cultural beliefs, the action was the worst they could have done.
Sikh man’s family stated,
“Awareness needs to be out there and staff need to go through training before they’re put on the floor dealing with ethnic minorities.”
This sad incident highlights the need for improved training for hospital staff on cultural and religious sensitivity.
Kesh, the practice of keeping uncut hair, is one of the Five Kakaars in the Sikh religion, introduced by Guru Gobind Singh. It symbolizes faith, dedication to God, and respect for Sikh beliefs, as hair is considered a divine gift that should not be trimmed.
Fears have also been raised about the care of Muslim patients in NHS hospitals, with reports highlighting that requests for religious accommodations, like headscarves, have sometimes been met with resistance, pointing to wider cultural sensitivity challenges in the healthcare industry.
UK patients who feel their religious rights have been violated can file complaints, with freedom of religion protected under Article 9 of the Human Rights Act 1998.
