"Spent conviction rules top student out of medical course..."

[agneishd]

A high-flying student was refused a place on a prestigious medical course because he had a spent criminal conviction.

Spent conviction rules top student out of medical course - Telegraph

[LightElf7]

Well I do feel sorry for that guy, coming from his poor background surrounded with violence, so you could understand why he did that.

But the argument still does go both way I think. From the patient's point of view, you would rather be willing to trust your life to a doctor with integrity and probity. Being a doctor is being in a position with high responsibility dealing with vulnerable people's lives, so it may have been a harsh decision towards that poor guy, but still from the college's view, how do you still know to trust him? Who knows what could have happened if during that burglary case, if the owner of the house was at home? If what the guy says about really wanting to become a good honest doctor in the future is really true coming from his heart, then its alright, but no one can ever know, so I do feel sorry for him, but can understand the college's decision.

[Gizmo says -]

he should really be forgiven, wiffout a shadow of a doubt, if he's shown he is responsible for almost all his life but irresponsible in one or two moments. cos pretty much everyone on this forum would be exactly that in the same circumstances.

[chicken66]

If he'd come straight from the outset (doesn't it say something on the ucas form about previous convictions) then it's fair enough, but it seems that he didn't say this until quite late on. However, where is the honesty that is such a huge part of the publics expectation of a doctor?

[agneishd]

it's a huge dilemma declaring anything, just on the chance it would affect one's app, and some may think they can get away with it - otherwise it may ruin their chances of working at their dream job

as gizzy said, even some people on this forum would have done similar things, being brought up in such an area, etc., and even some on this forum have asked for advice on what to declare exactly, and whether or not it would pose a risk to their respective apps

interesting article i thought, raises a whole bunch of Qs

[NorthernLight]

Originally Posted by agneishd

it's a huge dilemma declaring anything, just on the chance it would affect one's app, and some may think they can get away with it - otherwise it may ruin their chances of working at their dream job

Wouldn't have thought it was much of a dilemma to declare something which is going to show up the first time anyone does a CRB check.

Have a strong feeling that it was the appearance of deception rather than the conviction which swayed the folk at Imperial. But I could be wrong!

[agneishd]

it's understandable to a certain extent though (obvious I guess)

doesn't mean it's right

Q is were Imperial right to do what they did?
such is the nature of the career, they have to be cautious to the highest degree

[Dr Noodle]

Says something in the article about not having to declare spent convictions, only unspent ones.

If I were him I wouldn't have gone to the media allowing my name to be put in the paper tbh.

Wish they would give an actual reason as to why he wasn't allowed in cos burglary at 15 seems like too small a reason.

[Baki]

Originally Posted by agneishd

it's understandable to a certain extent though (obvious I guess)

doesn't mean it's right

Q is were Imperial right to do what they did?
such is the nature of the career, they have to be cautious to the highest degree

If I was in charge, I'd do the exact same thing. I feel for the guy, but not much time has expired since he was convicted. You can't really guage a persons personality from an interview. You get an indication, but the fact of the matter is. This conviction just tipped it in an unfavourably way for him.

For one, his grades are good but not amazing. Imperial gets thousands of applicants. If I had to choose between someone with comparable grades and no conviction and someone with a conviction. I'd pick the other guy every single time.

[agneishd]

Originally Posted by Baki

If I was in charge, I'd do the exact same thing. I feel for the guy, but not much time has expired since he was convicted. You can't really guage a persons personality from an interview. You get an indication, but the fact of the matter is. This conviction just tipped it in an unfavourably way for him.

For one, his grades are good but not amazing. Imperial gets thousands of applicants. If I had to choose between someone with comparable grades and no conviction and someone with a conviction. I'd pick the other guy every single time.

grade relevant? i heard he got (or was on track to get) 4As at A-level in any case

i'd like to know the exact nature of the crime itself - what were the exact facts of the case? was it premeditated? what was his situation? was it out of necessity, or peer pressure? what was it that was burgled (if anything at all)