Thursday, Nov. 6,2008 9:04 p.m.
Two years ago, a California state district court ruling mandated the
Association of American Medical Colleges permit individuals with
learning disabilities – under the definition provided by the state of
California – to receive extended time on their Medical College
Admission Test.
Four students with dyslexia and other learning disabilities
successfully had sued the AAMC, claiming they were denied an education
in medicine because they were not permitted extended time on their test.
Sadly, this last week, a higher court of appeals overturned this ruling.The court ruled that despite the fact that California law was more
expansive in its definition of disability, extended time should be
allowed only for individuals who are considered disabled under the more
narrow definition provided by federal law. Preparedness for
medical school should not be determined by how quickly an individual
can fill in the circles on a Scantron. Surely students applying to
medical schools have displayed talent and intelligence by receiving
undergraduate degrees. Provided the opportunity to go to
medical school, students with disabilities would have plenty of
opportunities to have their mettle tested before they become doctors. To
those who suggest that their use of extended time is a reflection on
their inability to perform well in the emergency room, where
split-second decisions are required, a more enlightened understanding
of disabilities is required. Their lack of expeditiousness on
a test does not translate into their lack of ability in the field.
Furthermore, only a small percentage of doctors work in such
conditions. The medical world does not soley consist of “ER” and
“Grey’s Anatomy.”What about the family practitioner or the
pediatrician? Doctors often deliberate, and shouldn’t we appreciate
them for it? Isn’t their value in taking time and being careful in your
diagnosis?
