People with X mental illness should not be doctors?

I don't really understand what you're talking about but the misuse of one word really doesn't affect what I was saying so much that you don't understand it.

pe·nal·ize   [peen-l-ahyz, pen-]
to put under a disadvantage or handicap.

(penalise implies punishment, which has nothing to do with it)

So you're saying we should treat less able people as though they weren't less able?

I never once mentioned depression. I was (in my opinion) quite clearly talking about psychosis. Perhaps I should have said it plainly..

You're right, many people drawn to this kind of area do indeed have a range of personal experience. Some psychoses can be controlled. Some can't be controlled to a level that working in that situation would be wise. I would expect for this to be taken on a case-by-case basis, no less. But to some people I do think it's right to say no. The small, small minority.

by the limits of the real world.

Its all very well having a theoretical debate about what constitutes what etc. But at the end of the day, people have to come up with a system to enable the most people to recieve the best help possible. That is what they have done.

Do you suggest all people who are a bit forgetful or get a bit emotional should referred for mental health assessments and/or treatment? We have to live in the real world, and accept the bounds of practicality.

legally, you can't say that someone with x mental illness isn't allowed to practise medicine. You can say that "it's unsafe for you to practise medicine due to your mental illness" though.

Hello,

What sort of mental illnesses would people think would make someone incompetent as a doctor? I am not saying that any mental illnesses do make someone incompetent, but am aware that due to the stigma attached to mental illness this may be the view some hold. So which mental illnesses (even if controlled with medication) would you perceive as being dangerous for a doctor to have?

If it is controlled then none. All would be fine. But the thing is it's all relative - I wouldn't want someone with epilepsy to be a surgeon but if they were a GP that really shouldn't be a big deal. The medication could have dangerous side effects which need to be taken into account. But really I believe if it's in control definitely no problem anything anywhere!

Why? You were just saying how it was fine if it was controlled

*uncontrolled epilepsy. sorry for some reason it deleted my uncontrolled >.<

*It is probably far safer for somebody with certain mental disorders to do the job of a Consultant or GP than it is for them to work in an emergency room where they are under a lot of pressure and a small mistake could make the difference between life and death.

*It is probably far safer for somebody with certain mental disorders to do the job of a Consultant or GP than it is for them to work in an emergency room where they are under a lot of pressure and a small mistake could make the difference between life and death.

As was obvious, rep-whore

Medical knowledge for mental disorders has always been far behind that for physical disorders because of the historical stigma and because they are harder to quantify, so from that and from what I've heard of peoples' experiences I wouldn't bet somebody's life on depression or psychosis medication.

Psychosis involves seeing things that aren't there / having a distorted sense of reality, which I would say is far more dangerous in an emergency room than depression.

Please say you're not a medical student or intending to be one. What on earth do you think consultants do and where did you get that impression?

Do us a favour and stop talking, will you?

They both can be equally debilitating. In fact if someone is depressed enough they can go into a psychosis. Also just because someone is psychotic it doesn't mean they are incapable of making correct decisions. Anyway I suppose you're answering my question and I appreciate that.