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Medical student and schizophrenia

Hi all.

I started having auditory hallucinations and have been sectioned three times. Will this cause problems if I wanted to be a doctor or even a surgeon despite having this on my medical records?
Reply 1
Avatar for JayAhm
JayAhm
6
There's no reason you wouldn't be admitted to medical school. As long as you're honest with the med school and yourself about your medical history and how you'll cope with the demands of the course, there's no reason to think it should be a major holdback.

Read:

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4088021

Some guidance from the GMC:

http://www.gmc-uk.org/education/undergraduate/23289.asp

And I'm sure @General Medical Council will be able to answer any questions you have in further detail but I think the guidance above on the GMC site is quite in depth.

If you're going to apply to med school, then once you have an offer, you'll have to fill out an occupational health form to make them aware and so they can help.
Original post by JayAhm
There's no reason you wouldn't be admitted to medical school. As long as you're honest with the med school and yourself about your medical history and how you'll cope with the demands of the course, there's no reason to think it should be a major holdback.

Read:

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4088021

Some guidance from the GMC:

http://www.gmc-uk.org/education/undergraduate/23289.asp

And I'm sure @General Medical Council will be able to answer any questions you have in further detail but I think the guidance above on the GMC site is quite in depth.

If you're going to apply to med school, then once you have an offer, you'll have to fill out an occupational health form to make them aware and so they can help.


Thank you for your response. If wanting to become a surgeon, will the same principles apply?
Reply 3
Avatar for saran23
saran23
6
Original post by InstrumentTie
Hi all.

I started having auditory hallucinations and have been sectioned three times. Will this cause problems if I wanted to be a doctor or even a surgeon despite having this on my medical records?


I believe that you can become a very good doctor or surgeon, being schizophrenic shouldn't hinder your chances but as the previous post suggested you must be honest with the medical school and inform them about this.

This article may provide you with some answer that being schizophrenic doesn't prevent you from being successful:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/27/opinion/sunday/schizophrenic-not-stupid.html?_r=0


Good Luck and strive for what you want :smile:
Reply 4
Avatar for Helenia
Helenia
20
Original post by InstrumentTie
Thank you for your response. If wanting to become a surgeon, will the same principles apply?


You will still have to get through occupational health assessment both for medical school and every time you change jobs, so it's important to be honest with them about your condition and treatment. The medical school will want to know how you can best be supported and what would be likely to happen if you had a relapse. It shouldn't be an absolute no, but having been sectioned three times does suggest quite serious disease, so they will take your safety and that of patients very seriously.

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