Becoming a doctor with a physical disability

clartharlear

I understand that a career in medicine involves hard work physically as well as mentally, and being fit to practice medicine includes a wide-ranging set of criteria, but are there any doctors/med students out there who do have physical disabilities? What would be possible/impossible?

If television has taught me anything then being unable to walk without a cane does not hinder brilliant diagnostic ability, but would it be possible to get through med school without the gift of the full range of physical abilities?

Any information, anecdotes or opinions would be very welcome. I'm trying to keep the topic a little bit broad, though obviously I have a particular interest but I would rather not go into personal details.

Cheers

Leono

I seen a National Geographic documentary about midgets that featured an orthopaedic surgeon that was a midget.

Jessibelle

A cousin of mine is a GP in the UK and he's been in a wheelchair since he was 22. I also know two other Dr's in Ireland who would have signifigant physical impediments but they both have good and sucessful careers, one in research and the other in a hospital. They've selected areas to specialise in that accomadate their differences, i.e, one can't stand for exceptionally long periods (we're talking a few hours continously on her feet isn't particularly good for her, so she decided against surgery as an option) but it hasn't stopped them having sucessful medical careers.
ETA: if you want any more details OP, drop me a PM.

stainluss

I have medicine down for a few choices and i think i have essential tremor.

It isnt that noticable but i assume it would be in the compulsory surgical training (im not intending on becoming a surgeon, however..)

Would i still have to do surgical training? Would they take this into account when marking my skill in this area?

Piste

Not really a physical disability but if is stand for long periods of time in a warm place I get light headed, dizzy and nauseous. Usually only happens if i'm not keeping myself busy and moving. I'm interested to see how surgery's going to work for me, I like the idea of being a surgeon but mightn't be able to do it if I keep getting dizzy spells Hopefully the moving around and keeping my mind engaged will ward off dizzy spells.

Narkius Maximus

I have had similar episodes as a student and an intern doing surgical rotations. It's due to pooling of blood into the veins of the leg because you are petrified to move in theatre when assisting, especially if it's quite intricate. I've had to excuse myself, the bosses don't mind, especially because if it avoids you collapsing into the abdomen! There's a great story about a doc who fell asleep after a pretty horrific call and collapsed into a belly. His surgical career was nice and short but now he's a consultant radiologist so it's all good.

I try and keep the legs going as much as possible when in theatre, the venous muscle pump etc etc.

But regarding physical disabilities, there's a doc in my place who uses a wheel chair and fair F to her it must be tough. I suppose if you want someit you'll do it.

RobFowl

I know 2 GP's both with marked physical disabilities.
Both are really quite exceptional Doctors and have forged successful careers and practices.

Dr Galen

i have worked with 2 doctors with physical disabilities, both in wheelchairs. They say the only time it really affected them was on surgical rotations as students. They both work in medical now and have to say you wouldn't bat an eyelid at them. Well apart from the fact that one of them nearly broke my foot one day, but thats another story.

I think its all going to depend on the disability.

To the person with the essential tremor above......my wife is a nurse and has this. Doesn't really affect her and she doesn't let it. She is excellent at cannulation etc and all the close in stuff. I wouldn't worry too much about it tbh at this stage.

Piste : I get the same sometimes and I'm in OT a lot. They are generally quite chilly, try and get yourself into ortho theatre if you can. It's always freezing in there

hotspur

I recall reading Oliver Sacks in "An Anthropologist on Mars" describing a surgeon with Tourette's syndrome whose tics disappeared whenever he performed surgery.