Archive for October, 2007
Is period pain enough reason to delay an exam?
7 Answers Published 1 year, 1 month ago in Making News.
DOCTORS and students are outraged by suggestions that medical certificates are coming too easily to exam-dodging students who have headaches or period pain. RMIT’s academic board has received a complaint that some doctors are issuing too many certificates for “minor'’ ailments and should be blacklisted.
RMIT’s academic board has received a complaint that some doctors are issuing too many certificates for “minor'’ ailments and should be blacklisted.The claims were made anonymously by a member of the university community, as part of the board’s overhaul of its special consideration policy.
Australian Medical Association Victoria president Doug Travers said the complaint was upsetting, false and a “cheap shot'’ at hard-working GPs.
“It’s upsetting that people take cheap shots at doctors,'’ he said.
“The issuing of medical certificates is a serious task. Doctors understand that and take care in assessing the situation when issuing a certificate appropriate to that person.'’
“If people are concerned about the behaviour of doctors, they should take it up with the appropriate body, not make back-handed comments with no substantiation.'’
RMIT Student Union president Patrick O’Keeffe was outraged.
“The fact that such proposals would even be considered by the academic board displays widespread disregard for the right of students to receive confidential medical care,'’ he said.
“These comm2ents reflect a deep distrust of some medical practitioners and students. The misinformed perception of the university is that students are rorting the special consideration policy (but) this is not the case.'’
Health problems the university considered “minor'’ could be indicators of serious illness like endometriosis, Mr O’Keeffe said.
However, student vice-chancellor Joyce Kirk said the board would not act on the suggestion.
“At no time did any of the parties to the briefing consider or discuss the possibility of blacklisting individual doctors or medical practices,'’ she said.
“It is clearly not the board’s intention to act on the `blacklisting’ feedback received.'’
