ABSTRACT
Can disabled people work as veterinary surgeons, doctors and in other similar professions? Patently the answer is yes, since such people already exist, albeit frequently those who have become disabled once they have qualified to practise. This chapter will focus first on two key issues that emerge from recent work exploring this topic, those of ‘omnicompetence’ (that is, do professionals in these fields need to be competent in all aspects of the role?) and ‘fitness to practise’. The second part of the chapter will outline the principal outcomes of a HEFCE-funded project, DIVERSE: the UK Veterinary Medicine Disability Project, which examined these issues and has made recommendations which have transferability across the healthcare and other regulated professions.
