Stephen Pollard
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Here's my problem: I love flying. I get a huge thrill at that moment when an aircraft accelerates on the runway and starts to take off. And so, since I've been a child, I've wanted to learn to fly.
But I can't. I have an unusual eye problem, one of the effects of which is that I do not have 3-D vision. So I'll never be allowed to fly an aircraft, because under Civil Aviation Authority rules my eye condition bars me from getting a pilot's licence.
I've always reasoned that although it's unfortunate that fate has determined that I will never wear a pilot's wings, the CAA must know what is and isn't necessary to fly safely, and if 3-D vision is needed, it's clearly sensible that it bans people like me from piloting aircraft. So instead of flying jumbo jets I do what my body will allow me to do and write for The Times. I've managed to live with the disappointment.
But a 21-year-old medical student, Naomi Gadian, takes a different view. Ms Gadian is dyslexic and is suing the General Medical Council because it uses multiple-choice tests as part of its qualification procedures. As a dyslexic, she finds them difficult. And she says that this means she is being discriminated against.
Forgive me, Ms Gadian, but you're missing the point. You're not being discriminated against. You're being weeded out. It's quite deliberate. If you can't read or write sufficiently well to pass a multiple-choice test, you shouldn't be a doctor.
To be blunt: someone who can't be sure to read 18mg rather than 81mg and who mistakes peroxone for paracetamol is not someone I'd want practising medicine on me - even if they had a wonderful bedside manner and a passion for medicine.
According to Ms Gadian: “Patients aren't going to ask you, Here's four answers. Which one is right?'” Hmmm. Isn't that more or less precisely what patients are going to ask her? It's certainly what I do when I see a doctor. I go over alternative explanations and treatments for my symptoms and get expert advice about which one is right for me.
I'm sure that Ms Gadian is a lovely, caring woman who would, if it were not for her inability to pass the tests designed to see if she would make a good addition to the medical register, be a good addition to the medical register. But not everyone can do everything, and if she can't pass her tests, she can't practise.
It's never occurred to me that the Civil Aviation Authority is discriminating against me. There are just some things that I can do and some that I can't, because of the body I was born with. That's life. It's my lot.
The GMC should have only one response to Ms Gadian: “These are the rules. Shape up or ship out.”
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The same applies Robert - medical students sit through over 5 years to get "less then a bachelor's degree", not including the work to get there in the first place. We study hugely diverse disciplines in this time, and after 4 years, most students get a MASTERS degree in medical science.
Ash, Exeter,
Although I take on bored what you say about mistakes with numbers etc Iam sure someone who was not dyslexic and was say tired from a long hard shift could make that same mistake,unfortunately you come across as bitter from your own experience,maybe you need to confront your own ghosts.
Kimberley, Worthing, England
Also, you forget that there are different medical professions that doctors can specialise in.
The man who holds the world record for retaining the most numerical information and repeating it backwards is dyslexic.
Furthermore, I would wish for dyslexia rather than naivity and stupidity.
Lochani, London, England
Medical 'degrees' are not that difficult. They get the title'doctor' for less than a bachelor's degree. The real work comes with practice on the wards and the long hours. If they can get the A level grades then the degree is a formailty.
Anyone could have made the mistakes you mention and have!
Robert, Worcester, UK
Excellent article, Stephen. I'm afraid that we all have to accept that there are things which we will never be able to do - otherwise how far down will the 'dumbing down' go? Medical mistakes are lethal!
Carole H, Leeds, UK
There is a new invention, the RAD Prism, that is allowing people of all professions who have dyslexia to be able to perceive the written word correctly. Go to www.readfluent.com to find out more.
C. Baumert, Kentucky, USA
Don't panic everyone! Dyslexic doctors by definition have sufficiently well controlled dyslexia to achieve the top marks required to get into medical school. Thus they are more than capable of writing accurate prescriptions and making diagnoses from a selection of symptoms! Dyslexia can be managed!
Susan, Edinburgh,
Its time this kind of ability based discrimination was stamped out !
Everyone is equal and everyone can do anything they want, they deserve no criticism or rebuffing, no one loses and everyone is special - its the PC way
Gavin, London, England
David - yes, that is a way to test medical students, particularly if you require 90+% of the answers to be correct to pass.
Ryan, Winnipeg, Canada
Multiple choice at medical school are either negatively marked with a pass mark of roughly 55% or are not and the pass mark is roughly 80%. So guessing would mean you fail.
By the perverse logic this student applies, illiterates are discrimnated against as they fail to read or write the questions
Richard, London, England
Well said Mr Pollard. If you can't read and write prescriptions, medical journals, patient notes, then sorry but you aren't suitable for the job. Hope the GMC stick to their guns rather than let her practice and then have to cope with her accidentally killing people later.
S. Turner, Fife, UK
I would have loved to have been a professional footballer but I was deiscriminated against because of my lack of talent.
David Gwilliam, Leicester, Engtland
Multiple guess allows a monkey to achieve 20 percent on five answers. With a little knwledge the odds can be reduced to 50 50. Is this the way to test Medical students?
David, Worthing , England