Just feeling this one out...

I have institutional support from my workplace to start my PhD. However, it has been a life-long dream to go to med school and have a career as a practioner but with expertise on the disability policy that affects all of us, adults and children, with disabilities. My clinical interests are in physical medicine and rehailitation.

Honestly, how would you guys feel about taking yourselves or one of your kiddos to a doc with CP-- and noticable CP at that. My fine motor skills are perfect (ie: could do botox, emg, etc safely), but have majorly messed up legs. I think it's one thing to say that people with disabilities can and should have any career they want, but it's another thing entirely when it actually happens. Jan Brunstrum, a doc in St. Louis, also has CP. I'm a bit more affected than she is.

Whatcha think? Honesty is welcome. Swift, I'm sure you've got a thing or two to say about this.

Nic. 27, spastic diplegic, sometimes walks, sometimes rolls

Well, I think that it would be a good thing, especially for us with nonverbal kids. It's hard for me to accept the fact that Em's various doctors can say offhandedly (seems to me, anyway) that she is or is not in pain when she is obviously in distress. I think this it the biggest way that a doctor with your particular experience would be helpful to me.

There is a doctor in the ER of the hospital where my husband works who is wheelchair bound (quadrapegic, I think) due to an accident. He works with a PA who does the actual examinations, not sure how he does various procedures, but it works quite well. We've actually seen him when I had to take Em into the ER and it bothered me not at all. I was too concerned about my daughter to care who or how the exam was accomplished, as long as Em got the relief she needed. Here's an article on him: Dr. Sam Simms.

Good luck and you know that we all will be rooting for you if you decide to do it.

Firstly, I don't know how exactly you qualify as a medic in the US, so I'm going to keep my views/thoughts as general as possible (but not intentionally vague).

I think that with all health-related courses, you need to look at what you *have* to be able to do at the end of your course (e.g. before you specialise), and see whether that would work out - and also whether it's the same all over the US (for example, over here people have to be able to do CPR as medics - whereas I have to be able to "know and be able to apply appropriate moving and handling techniques" - and our standards body has said that 'be able to apply' can be covered by moving and handling by proxy (i.e. telling someone what to do)). It's odd, as at least for me, if I became disabled after qualification, I'd only have to meet the standards for the area I was working in.

You say your fine motor skills are fine, which is great - now you need to think about what positions you'll be able to put your body into to use them (as 'correct posture' is important so that you don't cause yourself damage) - does free-standing affect your fine motor skills for example?

You also need to think about how you're going to stop random students/professionals/clinicians making inaccurate assumptions about you (or at least how to change them quickly) - in clinical situations there's not much time to do that. Also picking your battles in that respect.

As far as being treated by a wheelchair user goes, most of the patients/clients I've met don't have too much of a problem with it - a fair few come out with inappropriate comments, but that's another skill to learn (e.g. redirecting the interview back onto them/ignoring how you feel about the whole brave/etc. bit and redirecting away from that).

Is there any national guidance on becoming a medic with a disability in the US? (as we have guidance due to our equivalent of the ADA covering post-16 education, training and qualifications - which has to be balanced against the whole 'fitness to practice' bit).

Those are some of the things I'd think about in your position (I wouldn't have the stamina/constant fine motor to become a medic, so I've never considered it).

Good luck thinking!
Swift

PS http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2005/11/08/medical is talking about the same sort of issue, pretty much.

PPS http://www.physiatry.org/education/R...0student%22%22 has references which are a bit old, but seem to imply that there are standards.

To be honest with you, I am sooooo tired of "experts" who have never walked in our shoes or in my daughter's shoes telling me what she is capable of, what she is feeling, what we should do. I would be THRILLED if I walked in and saw a doctor with a disability and I would certainly be comfortable letting them treat my daughter, for two reasons. First, they would KNOW what they were talking about. Even if the disability was in a different area, they have still "walked the walk" so to speak. Second, hope. It gives all of us parents hope that our kids can do whatever they set their minds to. So, from a totally selfish standpoint, I say GO FOR IT!!!

(((hugs)))

I would not have a problem with it at all. Infact, I think I would listen to you more than a "typical" doctor. You have been in the patient's position. You know what stressors the patients are going through. You have the added assets of life experience and empathy which will make you a better doctor. It would set an example to your patients that physical limitations should not get in the way of your dreams. So yeah, that is my point of view.

I think it would be great! I too am tired of doctors saying "do this" when they haven't a clue about CP. I say, go for it!!

Well I may be a litle bias here having CP myself but that would be so totally awesome and wonderful!!! I LOVED what Paula had to say about Em's issues and doctors just "assuming" this or that could be causing this and that. See what I'm saying?? But heck, having a doc with CP they would truly understand what "you" parents with kiddos with CP are talking about and "we" adults with CP feel like as the aging process moves on and they could give us the insight and knowledge of whats happening with our bodies!!! Sorry I'm rambling on here but yes, it woyld be great!!! Oh, I have a question for you. Do you get fatigued or tired easily?? I know how brutal that can be on interns that don't have a disability, but I just wonder what your thoughts on that is?? Good Luck in your decision, but I say...GO FOR IT!!!

Robin

I say "go for it".

You mentioned Dr Jan - she has been my kiddos neurologist since they were 18 months old. She is an amazing doctor who runs the #1 CP center in the United States.

It actually sounds like your fine motor is better than hers. She doesn't do Botox and I've never seen her actually write. She requires help with parts of exams (hamstring stretches, etc) but there are always a group of residents following her around anyway She does walk independently but she often uses a cane.

I echo all the previous posters who love the idea of a doctor who actually understands. I'm sure we can all tell stories of doctors who didn't "get it". I actually had a resident ask once what the "plastic thingees" on Noah's feet were

Lori

I agree with everyone here. Last week, Livy's physiatrist recommended botox for her and when I asked if it hurt, she said it isn't so bad. I wondered to myself- How does she know? Its sort of the reason I looked for a woman OB-GYN who had already gone through pregnancy.

It would be wonderful to take Livy to a doctor that has been there and it would also be great for Livy to see that CP doesn't have to keep her from achieving great things.

So, Good for you and great for the CP patient community.

Kira,

I appreciate your comments. I have thought of these things-- for years now. I've stayed up nights pondering, have talked to everyone under the sun (including AB docs, PWD docs, and PWD docs in training). I've thought of the ways I'd adapt, and I've thought of my own physical stamina. My CP has been in flux over the past few years, but thanks to adaptations in mobility equipment and my own thought processes, I am stabilizing. I wouldn't go through with this until I felt resonably confident that I'd plateaued for a while or at least had the support system to deal with it if things change.

But the truth is, the pondering, what if's, and theorethicals only mean so much. I'll never know what I can and cannot do until I get there-- if I decide to get there. In terms of my physical functioning, I've gotten nothing but positive feedback from every doc I've spoken with. The physical ability is there, and it is my hope that the stamina will be there.

But again, I won't know unless I'm in the thick of it. Lots of people drop out of med school because they can't hack it, and the vast majority of them are AB. I taught myself how to walk after overhearing a doc tell my mom that I'd never do it, and no therapist should try it with me. If I can do that I'm sure I can find a way to adapt an OR rotation.

Congrats on getting your MPH. I did a dual MPH/MHSA 2 years ago while working full time. I did my dual MPH because I chickened out and decided not to apply to med school the first time around. However, it was one of the best experiences of my life. One of the greatest things about having it is that it adds breadth to your skillset so that if you no longer have the stamina to practice. So, if I go to med school and don't make it, I'll never be in limbo for a job-- my background is in policy, and Medicare will always need yet another person to save it.

Again, thanks for your thoughts.