On Nov 15, 2016, the AMA announced the following:
AMA Adopts Policies to Support Physician Wellness, Mental Health
ORLANDO, Fla. – The American Medical Association (AMA) adopted new policy today aimed at ensuring medical students and resident and fellow physicians have timely and confidential access to the medical and mental health services they need during their medical training. The new policies will help physicians-in-training maintain their personal health and well-being and reduce burnout so they can provide the highest quality patient care.
“Many physicians-in-training do not seek out treatment for physical, mental health or addiction issues because they are concerned about confidentiality, the possible negative impact that receiving treatment could have on their future career in medicine, or burdening colleagues with extra work,” said AMA Board Member and medical student Omar Z. Maniya. “With a high number of medical students and residents experiencing depression, burnout and suicide, and too many physicians overlooking their own health needs, we must do everything we can to reduce the barriers and stigmas that keep them from receiving care.”
Medical Schools' Willingness to Accommodate Medical Students with Sensory and Physical Disabilities
The following article was published in Oct 2016:
1: McKee M, Case B, Fausone M, Zazove P, Ouellette A, Fetters MD. Medical Schools' Willingness to Accommodate Medical Students with Sensory and Physical Disabilities: Ethical Foundations of a Functional Challenge to "Organic" Technical Standards. AMA J Ethics. 2016 Oct 1;18(10):993-1002. doi: 10.1001/journalofethics.2016.18.10.medu1-1610. PubMed PMID: 27780023.
Abstract
Students with sensory and physical disabilities are underrepresented in medical schools despite the availability of assistive technologies and accommodations. Unfortunately, many medical schools have adopted restrictive "organic" technical standards based on deficits rather than on the ability to do the work. Compelling ethical considerations of justice and beneficence should prompt change in this arena. Medical schools should instead embrace "functional" technical standards that permit accommodations for disabilities and update their admissions policies to promote applications from qualified students with disabilities. Medical schools thus should focus on what students with disabilities can do, rather than what they cannot do, because these students further diversify the health care profession and improve our ability to care for an expanding population of patients with disabilities.
1: McKee M, Case B, Fausone M, Zazove P, Ouellette A, Fetters MD. Medical Schools' Willingness to Accommodate Medical Students with Sensory and Physical Disabilities: Ethical Foundations of a Functional Challenge to "Organic" Technical Standards. AMA J Ethics. 2016 Oct 1;18(10):993-1002. doi: 10.1001/journalofethics.2016.18.10.medu1-1610. PubMed PMID: 27780023.
Abstract
Students with sensory and physical disabilities are underrepresented in medical schools despite the availability of assistive technologies and accommodations. Unfortunately, many medical schools have adopted restrictive "organic" technical standards based on deficits rather than on the ability to do the work. Compelling ethical considerations of justice and beneficence should prompt change in this arena. Medical schools should instead embrace "functional" technical standards that permit accommodations for disabilities and update their admissions policies to promote applications from qualified students with disabilities. Medical schools thus should focus on what students with disabilities can do, rather than what they cannot do, because these students further diversify the health care profession and improve our ability to care for an expanding population of patients with disabilities.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)