This month, a quote was posted on Twitter, revealing that a medical student of Newcastle University in the U.K. faced some pushback because of her dress.
The institution purportedly called it “the most inappropriate dress” they “had ever seen.” @TheGradMedic asked her followers what they thought about the “discrimination” she faced.
Photo: Twitter/MedicGrandpa THE OUTFIT In the photo, the student’s navy dress was tight-fitting but covered her knees.| Photo: Twitter/MedicGrandpa
THE OUTFIT
In the photo, the student’s navy dress was tight-fitting but covered her knees. Another comment was posted by @MedicGrandpa, a friend of @TheGradMedic, and they provided more details about the incident.
@MedicGrandpa wrote:
“A friend did their OSCE’s with me recently & got yellow carded for wearing a “short skirt”… could someone explain to me how it’s 2021 & medical schools are still pushing [this].”
What year are we in? I wore shorter clothes to my interview for med school, and I’m wearing them shorter today to work. It even has llamas!
— DrKatya (@drkatya_fleming) September 9, 2021
THE COMPLAINT
The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is an exam that tests the students in a “clinical setting” and evaluates how they interact with people who act as patients.
@TheGradMedic shared the specific complaint that her examiner lodged. She explained: “‘student had a short dress with no leg coverings—roleplayer commented immediately … said looked unprofessional, and I agree.’”
I think it was more than showing ankles. I won’t be treated by any doctor who appears to be out on a night, regardless of their medical knowledge. It could be a reflection of how they treat patients.
— Valkyr (@HarpsTale) September 9, 2021
SOCIAL MEDIA RULES
Ciarán (@MedicGrandpa), who also attends theNewcastle school, shared what motivated him to post on behalf of his friend. He indicated that the university said sharing the story online could potentially be a “contravention of GMC guidance.”
Grand Medical Council (GMC) is the formal body the tracks the actions of doctors and medical students. They have strict rules regarding comments on social media.
It’s a professional and elegant dress, but would you be able to run to a crash scene in it? The skirt is too short for me to walk in, let alone run in, a crash situation.
I know OSCE is not “real” but an exam. Still have to role model in real life tho
— 𝕋𝕚𝕥𝕦𝕤 𝔸𝕟𝕕𝕣𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕕𝕠𝕟 💙 (@babydonutx) September 9, 2021
EXAMINER’S WORD IS FINAL
Ciarán added that their complaints did not change the opinion of the university examiners. He expressed: “the [examiner’s] word is final, and the investigation is closed.”
Newcastle University unexpectedly posted an apology via Twitter. They clarified that the comment about the student’s dress length was lodged by a “role-play patient” during the OSCE exam.
A Twitter apology? What is the point of that tweet? It’s more an “oh, oh. We need to cya.” The Chancellor or Dean of the Medical School & the original doctor that was proctoring the exam need to meet with her face to face to make that apology, followed up with a discussion of
— Oy Vey Bubbe🔯 (@betenoir123) September 13, 2021
THE YELLOW CARD
Their apology also indicated that the yellow card the student received was rescinded. @TheGradMedic responded and insisted that the apology was not entirely genuine.
She said both the role-play patient and the examiner ruled her dress inappropriate. She wanted the whole truth to circulate online and went as far as reaching out to the British Medical Association, a U.K. doctors union.
But we are not convinced that the yellow card should have been issued. This is why, when the concerns were raised with us by @thegradmedic earlier this year, they were investigated, and the yellow card was rescinded. (2/3)
— Newcastle University (@UniofNewcastle) September 9, 2021
JEOPARDIZING HER CAREER
@TheGradMedic added that she safeguarded the examiner’s identity and did not want to jeopardize her medical career because of the encounter. As a result, she won’t be giving the press any more comments.
Ultimately, @TheGradMedic hopes her experience will lead to “wider questions being asked [regarding] discrimination, policies, but also the freedom (or lack of) for students/doctors to discuss issues without fear of repercussions.”
Perfectly professional. Not flashy, excellent length, bare below the elbow. Says much more about the examiners than the student.
— Sarah.M.Cooke (@sarahcolfer) September 8, 2021
ONLINE COMMENTS
Netizens were quick to comment on the incident. Many were shocked at her inappropriate dress. One user inquired if the student had sent the wrong photograph.
Another user suggested that the student might have been responsible. They stated: “The wellbeing of patients is paramount, and personal preference takes 2nd place. It has nothing to do with discrimination, but that seems to be the fallback position these days.”