April 24, 2019
In Story of the Week our focus is on the Medical Council of India’s
guidelines barring candidates with disabilities from studying medicine. This
week’s focus is specifically on candidates with blood disorders.
Currently midway through his Doctor of Medicine degree in Mumbai, Dr
Venkatesh, like other post graduate medical students, puts in long
grueling hours at the hospital every other day.
Venkatesh is specializing in pediatrics and studying medicine is a childhood
dream. Nothing has come in the way of this goal, not even the low phases in
health that he has experienced as a hemophiliac.
I faced many health issues in my under graduate days because I did not get
factors easily. People born with haemophilia have little or no clotting
factor and to stop the bleeding that is experienced as a hemophiliac, you
need the factors. If you get treatment at the right time, it can be
resolved in a day or two. There were many bleeding episodes for which I had
to run around for factors and I sometimes had low attendance, but I ensured
I did my job and never failed at my tasks. – Dr Venkatesh, PG
medical student
This commitment and dedication to the job is what most of us are looking for
in a doctor when we go seeking treatment. Yet the Medical Council of
India (MCI)’s new guidelines for MBBS admissions completely
discounts students with over 80% disability is certain categories from
applying under the disability quota. This includes blood disorders like
thalassemia, haemophilia and sickle cell disorder.
This is exactly what the MCI guideline says specifically about hemophilia:
80% of more disability for hemophilia patients is not just physical problems
or being wheelchair bound…Such patients have multiple problems including
speech, memory, etc., along with physical incapacitation. This is
irreversible, such patients are also at risk of frequent bleeds in the same
site of the brain…. In view of the physical and mental rigors of training,
this recommendation has been made.
This is among the six conditions of the MCI guidelines that have been
challenged in the Delhi High Court by Dr Satendra
Singh, of Doctors with Disabilities on the grounds
that they are discriminatory and violate the RPWD Act 2016 as well as the
provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
In an article in the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics (IJME)
Dr Singh, who fought a four-year-long battle with the Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare to open doors for disabled doctors in
central government health services argues,
“One of the biggest flaws of … Assessment Guidelines is the exclusion of
doctors with disabilities on the committees. We, the disabled people, are
real-life experts on matters pertaining to disabilities. Policymakers and
doctors without the lived experience of having a disability must not assume
they know of our abilities or doubt our competencies. Where are the voices of
doctors with disabilities?”, he asks.
The discriminatory guidelines have been highlighted in two petitions to the
Centre by the Haemophilia Federation of India (HFI) as well
as Dr Singh.
“Unless someone is very severely physically disabled and is unable to
perform surgeries, I cannot see the logic of barring them from studying
medicine”, says Vikash C Goyal, president, HFI. “There
are many people with hemophilia who lead perfectly well functioning lives and
are capable. Why should they be stopped? Besides, a person can understand the
limitations imposed by his disability and choose a field of study
accordingly. We have appealed to the ministry and want to understand what the
government position is”.
It boils down to a question of understanding the limitations that your
condition brings and choosing, adds Dr Venkatesh and the understanding shown
by those around you.
“I accept that there are certain limitations my health condition has and do
my best. I also had a lot of support from my teachers and the hemophilia
society which has enabled me to do my best. This is a condition like
diabetes, you have to treat it and do your best. We have so many political
leaders with health conditions like diabetes, etc. Send them all home in that
case. You cannot stop people from studying medicine or being doctors just
because they have a bleeding disorder.”
Source: https://newzhook.com/story/22054
