I have colourblindness, therefore i cant go to med-school is it true?

[superman88]

Hi, i just wanna ask, is it true that a colourblind person will not be able to go to any medschool around the world?.I applied to singapore university and they said that "you are not eligible for this course due to colourblindness".I am really interested to go to medschool, and my grades meet the requirement, so I will be happy if you could tell me some information regarding this issue.Thx

[Gizmo says -]

rest assured macca, its clearly not a problem.

a kinda black and white case, if you dont mind me saying so.

[Spencer Wells]

There are some aspects of medicine in which it is important to distinguish colour (e.g. cannula sizes, drugs labels), so it may depend on the extent of your colour blindness and which colours exactly you find it hard to distinguish.

Everyone at my medical school is tested for colour blindness before they start clinical work. I don't know what actually happens if found to be colour blind, but there is obviously a reason that it is done.

[Gizmo says -]

and what would you propose appens to them, Spence?

[Spencer Wells]

They're probably told to avoid tasks which are colour dependent, and to be extra-especially careful when reading labels.

[Gizmo says -]

so they will be able to go to med skool as far as we know then.

[Airtones]

I am colour blind (although I hate that term as its a massive misnomer).

I have deuteranomaly (basically everything is more red that other people see it). The main issue is I can't differentiate between most blues and purples. I am fine with red/green etc.

I had to declare it on my occupational health forms but colour blindnesses isn't even necessarily a defect, more of a genetic oddity. About 6% of the male population have it so there is obviously some reason for it. (Interesting side story - research has suggested that it may make identifying camoflauge easier. Since camo works by breaking up an objects shape with deceptive colours, a different perception of those colours 'beats' the camo. This may have helped humans in our hunting days, which weren't all that long ago).

Basically the key is knowing your limits. If your colour vision is a hazard you need to identify it yourself and seek help where needed.

[Airtones]

Oh, and also people with colour blindnesses aquire full dark adaptation slightly quicker. Hehe.

[Sticks]

My dad is a colourblind art teacher. If he can, you can

[heed]

its not a problem in the slightest, unless it is very very severe - i have difficulty between certain shades of purple and blue but have never experienced any problems in 4 years. there are doctors with all sorts of "defecit" practicing safely (doctors in wheelchairs, doctors with hearing impairement etc) including doctors who cannot tell the difference beyween the greenest of greens and the reddest of reds - so i wouldnt be worried!