A degree in medicine - do I have any chance?

Steel Maiden · 15-12-2008, 04:35 PM

I am currently taking a year out. In October 2009 I will start my 4 year natural sciences degree in Cambridge. After that I plan to take a 4 year postgraduate medicine degree.

My ultimate destination is to become a forensic pathologist.

I have a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia.

Do I have a chance of getting through medicine and working in a hospital as a junior doctor (or something like that) before I specialise in forensic pathology?

Should I lie my way through it and never tell anyone about the schiz., or is there a chance that they will find out anyway?

Cambridge know about my diagnosis.

But would a hospital employ me knowing I have schizophrenia? I doubt it. Is it too risky to disclose my diagnosis?

I really want to go into forensic pathology. I read a lot about the subject and I have a good memory for the topic.

Horizon · 15-12-2008, 04:44 PM

I would say that if you want something badly, go for it. You sound like you really have a passion for the subject. I would also say to be completely honest about your diagnosis, because if they found out without you telling them, it might be worse. To me, openness is the best way to go, though it is frightening and difficult.

Tomorrowwillcome · 15-12-2008, 04:50 PM

Yes you can, I'm sure of it, if someone can become a surgeon with teurettes (sp) then you can become a doctor with schizophenia. It will be a lot harder for you studywise, I find study and BPD hard. but with your determination I think you will get there. Just stay positive and believe it will happen. I'm not sure omitting ilness is such a good idea though, if they discover it it could balls it up for you and I'd hate that to happen. Aly

sopranonut · 15-12-2008, 05:18 PM

Totally agree with the others - of course you can do it! - if you personally believe you can do it you will!
I would say that you should be completely honest with them from the start because if they found out that you lied that would be a lot worse. They can also then help and support you when/if things do get difficult. They will probably ask you to see occupational health pretty regularly (i'm doing mental health nursing and that's what i have to do) but occ. health are there to help and support you more so than "inform" them (also the actual diagnosis is usually kept secret occ. health will just suggest ajustments to the course etc. due to illness).

713 · 15-12-2008, 05:53 PM

I am intending to become a doctor as well, but I am not intending to tell them. It's one thing to mention that you had e.g. depression, but schizophrenia is completely different, because it's considered as a serious mental health issue. If they ask me I would answer that I had a bit of a life crisis.
The important point whatever you are going to say to them, is that you are free of your symptoms by then. I think it doesn't matter that much if you take medication, but you must have a record of success with that medication and have been stable for some time.
But hey, you've got 5 years time to achieve that. I am sure you can do that.

Not The Jello · 15-12-2008, 07:31 PM

When I was in hospital my doctor told me he had several collegues with schizophrenia and it never set them back.
So go for it my love, pursue the dream xx

sherlock holmes · 15-12-2008, 07:53 PM

Of course you can do it, you just need to manage the symptoms first.

Never lie about the schiz, nothing good will ever come of it. If you lie about it and then get employed as a doctor, when they find out there could be serious repercussions.

You will also get a lot more support if people know about it.

pixiedust · 15-12-2008, 08:09 PM

As others have said you should definitely go for it and I'm sure you'll become a fantastic forensic pathologist. However, I wouldn't lie about your diagnosis because it could ruin your chances if they found out you'd lied and also, you'd probably have to have a CRB check and any sections would show up on there which would need explaining. I'm sure you can do it though! Good luck :)

Steel Maiden · 16-12-2008, 09:48 AM

Thanks guys, you really helped me to realise what's best. I will try to go through my course without a slip-up. I will try super-hard to make this admission my last one ever. I won't lie about my schiz. I will be honest. I will talk to my tutor when I get to Cambridge next year and ask him if its viable. Thanks all. You have helped.

sherlock holmes · 16-12-2008, 12:10 PM

:)

Make sure you get a good balance of studying but also looking after your health. You don't want to study so hard you get ill.

lostandalone3 · 17-12-2008, 03:46 AM

I dont think you would be able to hide your schizophrenia, I am doing a BHSC and we had to get a letter from our Dr.s giving us a clean bill of health before we were accepted into the course. Unfortunately for me this meant i had to disclose my mental health problems, get letters from my specialists, and have a meeting with the head of my school. You also have to do a police clearance thing, where they check your record and because i have been sectioned more than once and detained it all showed up. They still let me into the course though, but i had to give all of this information so they knew that i was safe enough to work in the hospitals, community etc.

You have a good chance of becoming a Dr. i made it into med school with my history, just thought you should know what they ask for becasue its better to be honest right from the start.

goodluck

loopylucy08 · 17-12-2008, 04:14 AM

The positive is that you have a long time to bring your symptoms under control and stabilise your condition, and its great that you have this goal to work towards. However I say with caution as I was turned down from starting a medical degree this year, having secured a place on my ability and interview, because they considered that I did not meet the guidelines on "fitness to practise medicine" which are criteria set out by the GMC for beginning medical training and working as a doctor in the UK due to my having mental health problems ( my diagnosis is anorexia, depressive episodes with self harm and symptoms synonymous with APD and BPD). Therefore by all means I think you should work towards it, but you will need to demostrate a sustained period of mental stability for them to assess you as medically fit.

shadow-light · 18-12-2008, 02:55 PM

this is something I have often wondered too... I'm currently studying for a physiology degree, hoping to do medicine after and eventually (in stupid number of years) become a surgeon...

I think you have to be able to manage your symptoms and be able to prove this... I think you have to see an occupation health person every now and again... but as far as I have found from looking into it there should be no real issue.
I've done a LOT of research into this as it was the main reason I was avoiding getting an official diagnosis. But from what I have found as long as you can prove that your "mentality" doesn't negatively impact upon your performance there is no real issue.

don't try to hide it though... they will find out and the fact you tried to hide it will make it look to them as if you don't believe yourself that you can cope with it.

Steel Maiden · 18-12-2008, 05:54 PM

Thanks for the advice all. I will talk to my tutor in university and my psych in university, once I get to uni.

Paranoid schizophrenia, 2 section 2's, 1 section 5(2) and a section 136. I had several violent episodes during that time. Its all going to be in my criminal records. Also the informal episodes I had with the police (i.e. without being sectioned) will come up on my criminal records.

Does anyone know where I can find the guidelines for "fitness to practise"? Because I really badly want to go into forensic pathology; I'll do whatever I can to secure it for myself.

Thanks.