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Autism and medicine - is it worth pursuing diagnosis or will it be a barrier?

Panda

Hi guys! This is my first contribution the community, and a question has probably been asked before, but here goes...

In less than a month's time, I'll be submitting my ucas application to 4 universities, to study medicine. As a volunteer for a medical charity's youth programme, I've been given autism awareness training - when the trainer spoke about features of ASDs, how young people with autism might view the word differently from other people, I was shocked. I thought all of what she spoke about was normal, or if not normal then just one of my funny idiosyncracies. I went home, did some research and discovered that I meet many of the traits I read about and had the same difficulties. Now I'm debating whether a diagnosis is a good thing - I really don't like the idea of self - diagnosing, but I genuinely think I have it - confirmation I think would just be a trigger for looking at things differently and a way of explaining what has always been my "oddness".

Medicine is a career where empathy, teamwork, communication etc are essential, so the big question is will seeking diagnosis affect my chances? Admittedly nothing will happen until after applications have gone, but I'm still concerned that future employers may look at something like that, and, true to the stereotypes, doubt my competence and fitness to practice.

Any advice, comments or thoughts are welcome, and thank you all for your help.

Parents

  • I have read a bit about empathy in the past, as I often feel what the other person feels too strongly. I cannot bear to be near someone who is very distressed. I can also easily empathise with someone who has experienced something I have experienced.

    It is cognitive empathy that we lack. We do not know what the other person is thinking unless they tell us. I have lost many friends by outstaying my welcome. I often ask people what they are doing later, so that I know when to leave, or ask them to tell me if they need to be elsewhere. I cannot take a hint. I often trample all over other peoples views, blissfully unaware of the fact at the time.

    If it is your job to find out what the other persons problem is, then you will focus on that and learn how. You may not spot those who cannot bring themselves to say what their problem is. They can go to someone else. I think every GPs surgery and hospital department would greatly benefit from having staff with Aspergers to help raise understanding of the patients with Asd. I would say secure your place at medical school and seek diagnosis later, if and when you think that you will benefit from it.

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  • I have read a bit about empathy in the past, as I often feel what the other person feels too strongly. I cannot bear to be near someone who is very distressed. I can also easily empathise with someone who has experienced something I have experienced.

    It is cognitive empathy that we lack. We do not know what the other person is thinking unless they tell us. I have lost many friends by outstaying my welcome. I often ask people what they are doing later, so that I know when to leave, or ask them to tell me if they need to be elsewhere. I cannot take a hint. I often trample all over other peoples views, blissfully unaware of the fact at the time.

    If it is your job to find out what the other persons problem is, then you will focus on that and learn how. You may not spot those who cannot bring themselves to say what their problem is. They can go to someone else. I think every GPs surgery and hospital department would greatly benefit from having staff with Aspergers to help raise understanding of the patients with Asd. I would say secure your place at medical school and seek diagnosis later, if and when you think that you will benefit from it.

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