Around one in five Americans and one in five Australians have a disability.
Research shows that people with a disability tend to receive less routine medical care, such as screening, and have higher rates of cardiovascular risk factors. This may be due to inaccessible buildings or lack of equipment but research also shows people with disabilities often receive different treatment for the same medical condition. The response to this deficit in care has largely been increased education but doctors with disabilities state a better approach is more inclusion for health professionals with a disability so that colleagues, mentors and students can better understand how disabilities affect daily life.
Doctors with disabilities say they are better able to empathise with and connect with patients. Patients with disability say seeing a doctor who has been through a similar experience is inspiring and they feel they are more likely to be listened to and understood which can lead to better doctor patient relationships and improve continuity of care. Doctors with disabilities also provide inspiration for colleagues and future doctors. Many doctors with a disability say they didn’t realise their dream of becoming a health professional could become a reality until they witnessed or heard about someone with a similar disability working in health.
Why are doctors with a disability underrepresented?
In America, only around 2% of practicing physicians have a disability compared to the 20% of the American population and the statistics are probably similar for Australia. The Australian Medical Association states that ideally the medical profession should mirror society and that it is important to have people from a diverse range of backgrounds. The majority of doctors with a disability have become disabled after their training and had to go through rehabilitation and supervision in order to maintain their registration. They are often enabled via a return-to-work program with reduced hours or duties but it is a lengthy process and requires a great deal of perseverance.
Entering the profession as a student with a disability requires even more persistence. In some cases medical students have had to file human-rights cases in order to be allowed to study. A general changing attitude to inclusiveness has meant that medical schools and training institutions are now looking at what can be done for disabled students rather than dismissing the possibility of their entry. Medical Deans have recently amended their inherent requirements for studying medicine in Australia and New Zealand to include students with disabilities.
Doctors with Disability Australia (DWDA) advocates for an inclusive profession and provides peer support on issues associated with medical study. They state that potential medical students with a disability should be considered on a case by case basis and that it often just requires a different way of thinking, for example following a specialty that meets the individual doctor’s capabilities and skills. Interpreters and modern technology including computers and adaptive wheelchairs allow doctors with visual or mobility impairments to be GPs and even surgeons.