So it’s possible (and legal) to practice medicine with a disability? (vision, hearing, paralysis, mental,etc)?
Will those graduating from medical schools with disabilities be able to find employment as a physician?
good luck
you're less likely to get shoved out of a residency program 2/2 disabilities if they know about it and what accommodations will be needed upfront, however you're also less likely to get residency interviews if the disability (depending on what it is) is discussed in your LORs, Dean's Letter, or PS
if you don't get through medical school or residency 2/2 disability, you cannot work as a physician
tales abound of residents with extreme disabilities getting through, and I'll be honest, there's some luck because the institutions involved (med school & residency program) likely are trying to make a statement with it and are choosing to take that on and see to it that they are selecting someone they feel can make the journey with the support they are willing and able to provide
far more common are tales of students and residents with health issues and disabilities getting inadequate support and getting shoved out
yes, some of those people couldn't perform up to expected standards even with reasonable accommodations, and that's that, sad, but unavoidable
I don't think the field does enough to support students/trainees with disabilities, chronic health conditions, or even transient ones, where such support would not compromise education and would not be onerous.
I worked with someone who was the point person for ADA law and accommodation for not only students but all the employees of my medical school, which is highly regarded, and I daresay quite liberal, and with a mission that aims for diversity and to be quite inclusive, and the point person indicated to me that in all of their years specializing in this, for both private for-profit industry, the business sector, and then in healthcare, that healthcare institutions, and specifically physicians at the administrative level, were the absolute worst in following reasonable accommodations supported by the law.
When this person would instruct what accommodations the law required (and gave me examples that given my experience would not be difficult to be accommodated in the clinical setting), they frequently found themselves in conflict with physicians and other healthcare administration, who would frequently attempt to circumvent this, to the point that the point person determined was illegal. Frequently the only way for them to deal with this push back was to get legal risk management involved.
Don't believe me? There are definitely studies and stats that show that healthcare providers avail themselves of healthcare services at a rate lower than the gen pop, and in many ways don't see to their own health.
Knowing what I know now, I could not in good conscience recommend many with disabilities (though not all) or chronic health problems, enter the medical field. There's better places to be, frankly. Healthier and less miserable, more accommodating, and inclusive. Medicine is always about swimming upstream, the problem is no one gives a **** if your flipper sorta sucks and you get sucked downstream.
