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

Robin, The answer to this is a big, fat, unequivical yes. That is the only reason I'm holding back. I know I can work around it with caffiene, and Provigil, but I'm also worried about the toll the training would take on my body-- moreso than the toll that actual practice would take on it. I'm also seriously considering PA school as an alternative. It's still taxing, but with no residency to wear you down. That's a huge plus!

Swift, you bring up excellent points, all of which I've thought hard about. Hence, why I wouldn't even consider a rotation in cardiac surgery, etc. In the US, there is a tiny little blurb on most med school's websites stating that you must be able to perform certain physical tasks, but exceptions are always made. A guy I went through undergrad with just successfully completed med school, and he has quad CP. And a friend with C 7-8 SCI just did as well. My SCI friend is now an anesthesiologist. I have no idea how he manages to give epidurals, etc. But he does, or he's found a way around it.....

Thank you all for your input. If I decide to do this I have a lot of prereqs that I need to retake, so it will be a few years if, indeed, it actually happens.

This thread reminds me of Grey's Anatomy, Grey's Anatomy: CP edition LOL, sorry!

I missed that episode, I bet it was interesting!