Principle

Overview 

Medical education programs place significant intellectual, physical, and emotional demands on  learners. Thus, it is the responsibility of the medical school is to ensure that there exists "an effective system of personal counselling…that includes programs to promote the well-being of learners and facilitate their adjustment to the physical and emotional demands of medical school" (Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS) Element 12.3). 

The maintenance of mental and physical health is a key factor in the success of medical school learners. Learners experiencing health challenges are encouraged to seek the necessary supports and collaborate with service providers to enable them to effectively manage these challenges. From time-to-tome, the health challenges of a learner may be of such as serious nature as to necessitate the withdrawal of the learner. 

Purpose

To outline the circumstances under which learners may elect or be required to withdraw and the procedures that must be followed.

Scope

Undergraduate Medical Education learners in the Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University (Memorial). 

Definitions

Learner — A Memorial University undergraduate medical learner.

Policy

1.0 A medical learner who develops a physical or mental illness may elect or be required to withdraw from the M.D. program if any or all of the following conditions exist: 

1.1. the illness affects the learner's ability to successfully complete the requirements of the academic curriculum; or, 

1.2. continuation in the program would put the learner at risk for illness progression; or, 

1.3. the learner poses a significant risk to the health or safety of self or others; or, 

1.4. the learner's continued participation in the program would substantially impede the educational process for them or others.

Procedures: