Disability Studies in Medical Education

Abstract

Uncompassionate attitudes of doctors can have adverse impact on the already shattered emotional health of a person with disability. The medical conditions or disabilities are seen in isolation from their daily lives. The quality health care is thus compromised. Disability Studies can increase the understanding of the disabled population. The curriculum offered to medical students has an impact on their learning potential. Medical practice influences social conditions and is also influenced by society. The social background of diseases and their causation must be understood within a holistic framework. Disability studies can bring together various disciplines dealing with human pain, pathology treatment, rehabilitation, and coping skills. Medical students must have comprehensive training about complex human behaviour, ethics, and social justice. They must learn the relationships among disease, distress, and disability. Co-existence of disability studies with medicine can transform medical practice, leading to high quality healthcare. Including Disability Studies in medical curriculum would bring Medical Humanities into classrooms.