Marital relationship expert speaks at HMC

The Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) hosted prominent marital relationship expert Dr Sandrine Atallah (pictured) from Lebanon earlier this month.Dr Atallah gave two lectures targeting HMC’s healthcare professionals - the first on the impact of prostate disorders and the second on methodologies of maintaining a healthy relationship between couples and the role of specialist doctors.“Embarrassment about talking about marital relationship problems stops many from seeking medical advice or treatment, which often puts pressure on relationships,” she said.Dr Riyad al-Zubaidi, consultant urologist at HMC, agreed that social stigma still prevented patients from approaching healthcare professionals for medical and health advice. “Patients are still reluctant to seek medical treatment,” Dr al-Zubaidi said. “Once the barriers of social stigma are broken, in the first visit, patients tend to feel more comfortable sharing their problems with the physician.”HMC’s Marital Relationship Clinic was established 12 months ago, according to Dr Khalid al-Rumaihi, consultant and head of the Urology Department at Hamad General Hospital.“It was opened to provide patients, particularly newly-wed couples, with diagnostic and therapeutic services,” he said. “We have assigned two specialists - a male and a female - to this clinic, aiming to boost awareness among couples about the importance of talking about relationship problems to specialised doctors, seeking their medical and health advice.”Dr al-Rumaihi said the clinic at HGH maintains a high standard of both privacy and confidentiality in dealing with patients’ information, records and inquiries. “The clinic receives patients once a week in the Outpatient Department of Hamad General Hospital,” he added.