I seek to raise awareness within the medical community about the importance of treating all disabled medical students and doctors equally and without judgment. I am fighting for a disability-inclusive culture in medicine. To that end, I strongly encourage doctors and medical students who are disabled, neurodivergent, and/or have long-term health conditions to complete the BMA’s disability and neurodivergence survey. 

My story

Disabilities are profoundly personal and diverse, as unique as the individuals living with them.

As a doctor with temporal lobe epilepsy, diagnosed while I was at medical school in 2019, I understand this first-hand. Despite my sunflower epilepsy badge, most people do not notice my disability. Yet each day brings its challenges: managing seizure triggers, medication side effects, being legally unable to drive, and the fear of a seizure happening unexpectedly.

Early in my career, advocating for reasonable adjustments was critical. For instance, securing a specific geographical region for training to mitigate risks like SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy) involved extensive paperwork and repeatedly justifying my condition to unknown panels during foundation and training applications.

Even though my epilepsy is lifelong, this process repeats with every specialty application, regardless of whether I secure a position in higher training. Simple accommodations, such as exclusion from out-of-hours shifts to prevent seizures, required persistent advocacy from myself.

Everyday challenges

Living with epilepsy demands meticulous planning; spontaneity is a luxury I can no longer afford. Imagine losing your driver’s licence, which would limit access to work and daily activities. Add to that medication suppressing cognitive function, making exam preparation or specialty exam recruitment a struggle, as well as balancing seizure triggers.

I’m now a clinical tutor in my third year of medical practice, and I am fortunate to have an incredibly supportive department honouring my reasonable adjustments and respecting my disability. I refer to this as local hub luck. However, I recognise that not every disabled doctor shares this positive experience.

For many, juggling intense work alongside bespoke health needs highlights why a uniform approach to disability doesn’t work. The BMA’s disability and neurodivergence survey seeks to understand more about such challenges.

The hidden nature of invisible disabilities

In my case, my epilepsy is entirely hidden until a seizure appears, and the debilitating consequences of the aftermath. This invisibility often leads to dismissive comments like ‘you look fine’ – invalidating the complex reality of managing medication and triggers. I’ve received disheartening questions like ‘what’s it like to have a seizure?’ or misguided remarks such as ‘you’re lucky you don’t have night shifts’. Well, I’d rather have a neurologically normal brain.

Unfortunately, it has been from other doctors that I’ve received the least amount of compassion and often judgment when disclosing my disability; this often stems from ignorance.

Individuals are the experts

Each doctor is the expert on their disability. Even individuals with the same diagnosis cannot fully grasp the specifics of another’s condition; two doctors with epilepsy will have different experiences and challenges. There may be an epileptic doctor who reads this, who can do nights and be in theatre, while I cannot.

As doctors, it is our responsibility to create an environment of respect and trust, where our colleagues feel safe sharing their experiences and needs. Do not judge; listen.  That’s vital in fostering a supportive environment – listen to the needs of disabled colleagues, rather than assuming you know about their disability. Many disabled doctors are scared to disclose their disability due to discrimination, judgment, or a change in attitude towards them.

Disability advocacy programmes, while crucial, are still not present in every hospital. These programmes create a culture that values and respects individual voices, which is essential for inclusivity; they should be advocated for and included as part of each induction. 

Empathy improves healthcare

Disabled doctors prove daily that a diagnosis doesn’t define their ability to care for patients or contribute to medicine. All disabilities demand resilience and adaptability. A genuinely inclusive medical community acknowledges this diversity and provides the necessary tools for disabled and neurodivergent doctors to succeed, with a non-judgmental approach.

For example, understanding that epilepsy might require avoiding long shifts or managing medication side effects fosters better support for disabled doctors, and a culture of compassion and understanding. As doctors it’s crucial that we embrace these values in our practice to ensure the best care for all patients and colleagues.

Remember that all disabilities – visible or invisible – are as unique as those they affect. For myself, anti-epileptic drugs often cause fatigue, requiring extra effort to sustain even 8-hour shifts. Despite these challenges, disabled doctors bring unique insights into medicine – a deeper understanding of patient struggles, for example, and innovative problem-solving.

It is time to recognise and show empathy and respect to support diversity in all its forms. I encourage all doctors and medical students who are disabled, neurodivergent or have long-term health conditions to complete the BMA’s disability and neurodivergence survey, so that we can have our collective voice heard.

Alice Gatenby is a clinical teaching fellow in diabetes and endocrine in Morriston Hospital for Swansea University, and disability advocate.  

If you need to discuss any accessibility requirements to help you to complete the survey, please email [email protected].