Fathwa, - Is it permissible for a male massage therapist to treat female patients?

Question:
Is it permissible for a male massage therapist or physiotherapist
to massage or treat a female?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
Praise be to Allah.
May Allah's peace and blessings shower upon our beloved Messenger.
Dear Brother,
I pray this message finds you in good iman and health.
The general principle regarding medical treatment of the opposite sex
is that treatment is only allowed out of necessity, for example, a
doctor who is required to treat everyone regardless of gender, and
that contact with the opposite sex is only to the extent that is
necessary.
For these reasons, male patients are required to seek out the
treatment of male doctors, while female patients are required to seek
out the help of female doctors. In the event of an emergency, or the
unavailability of a doctor of the same sex, then it is permitted to go
to a doctor of the opposite sex.
I do not know the details of your job situation, but I strongly urge
you to avoid massaging female patients. Generally speaking, massage is
not considered as urgent medical treatment. Hence, your female
patients could conceivably go to a female therapist without
exacerbating their conditions. In particular, massage is a very
sensual therapy. As you know, it requires skin-to- skin contact and
some degree of disrobing. Obviously it is advisable to avoid such
situations.
On the other hand, physical therapy is far less sensual than massage
and could conceivably fall under the rubric of urgent medical care,
particularly for people who can't function normally without such
therapy.
I advise you to apprise a local scholar of your situation.
Please read Shaykh Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari's related article,
"Treating a Female Patient's Genital Areas," at
http://www.sunnipath.c om/resources/Questions /qa00005355.aspx.
And Allah Most High knows best.