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Disability equality in the medical profession

July 2007

This report examines the provision of disability equality in the medical profession, looking specifically at the accessibility of medical careers to disabled people, and the support provided to disabled medical students and disabled doctors.

Section one introduces the social model of disability, and provides general information about disability legislation and discrimination. Developing disability equality policies, the problem of under-reporting of impairment and the barriers faced by disabled doctors and disabled medical students are considered in section two. Section three examines disability equality in access to studying medicine, looking specifically at the importance of promoting medical careers to disabled people, integrating disability equality in admission and selection processes, and the support and retention of disabled medical students. This section is of particular relevance to organisations with responsibility for undergraduate medical education.

The final section looks at what is required to enable disabled doctors to lead successful careers in the medical profession including the need for effective disability monitoring and the importance of providing disability equality in the recruitment and selection of doctors. This section also considers the support that should be provided for disabled doctors and individuals who acquire an impairment while studying, training and practising medicine. This section is of particular relevance to medical workforce managers and employers, postgraduate training providers, as well as regulatory bodies and the UK health departments.

The report contains recommendations for action and is aimed at policy makers; healthcare, academic, training and regulatory organisations that have strategic and operational responsibilities within the medical profession; the UK health departments; and medical workforce managers. It may also be of interest to medical students and doctors, and relevant stakeholder organisations.

This report has been published in conjunction with the 2007 BMA report Disability equality within healthcare: the role of healthcare professionals which discusses disability equality in healthcare service provision and considers the inequalities in access to healthcare and health outcomes experienced by disabled people. It also identifies ways in which healthcare professionals can help to break down disabling barriers, and highlights the need for consistent disability equality and etiquette training throughout medical education. The roles of healthcare organisations in promoting disability equality and supporting policy implementation are also discussed.

Download a PDF version of the report using the right hand link or a hard copy is available from:
BMA Science and Education Department
British Medical Association
BMA House
Tavistock Square
London WC1H 9JP
Tel: 020 7383 6164
Email: info.science@bma.org.uk