The University of the West Indies (The UWI) says its decision to turn down an application from a visually impaired man to study medicine was not arbitrary, but was based on standards set down by the accrediting body for the Medical Science Programme to which it must adhere.

“The standards stipulate that students in medicine must, in addition to meeting academic requirement, also meet the technical standards that are deemed essential for training and practice in the profession,” The UWI said in a statement responding to the story of Randy Greaves published in last week’s Sunday Observer.

According to Greaves The UWI, Mona had told him that although his Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination grades met the required standards, the Faculty of Medical Sciences could not facilitate him because of his eye impairment.

“I was born with about four eye conditions. I have bilateral cataracts, plus I have nystagmus so that causes the eyes to shake. And I have near-sightedness and amblyopia,” he explained.

Greaves said the university decided not to accept his application because they could not facilitate his challenges, and felt anyway, that it was not possible for him to perform the duties of a doctor. So instead of medicine, the university admitted him for his second choice of study — pharmacology.

“I didn’t choose pharmacology, I chose medicine. I actually qualified to be sponsored to study medicine at UWI, but they claim that they don’t have appropriate facilities for people like me. They say that I wouldn’t be able to see patients. But who knows? They didn’t even give me a chance. They said that my grades are there but ‘can I do the work?’ Them just write me off,” added Greaves who said he has since applied to a university and China and got accepted to study medicine.

However, Office of the Campus Registrar at The UWI said it is important to note that the decision not to admit Greaves in the MBBS Programme was in no way arbitrary.

The university said that the decision was related to its technical standards for admission to, advancement in, and graduation from medical school required by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions, which is the accrediting body for the Medical Science Programme to which the university must adhere.

The standards state that “in addition to the academic requirements for admission, students in medicine must also meet the technical standards that are deemed essential for training and practice in the profession”.

In addition, “the use of an intermediary, a person trained to perform essential skills on behalf of the student, or a person used such that a student’s judgement must be mediated by someone else’s power of observation and selection, is not permitted”.

The standards also state that “a student must be able to observe demonstrations and experiments in the basic sciences including, but not limited to anatomic dissection, microscopic studies and patient demonstrations. A student must be able to visually interpret presented information requiring the functional use of vision, hearing, touch, and sometimes smell”.

The university said it understood the disappointment that its decision would cause Greaves. “As a result, not only did the dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences meet with him personally, but the university also sought additional expert advice in order to guide the decision of the Faculty of Medical Sciences’ Admissions Committee concerning his admission into the programme,” The UWI said.

It said it was “committed to increasing participation in higher education for all with the capacity and desire to learn”, adding that improving access forms a large part of its mission to propel growth, development and innovation in the Caribbean, the region and the world.

“At The UWI, Mona, we have embraced and supported students with various forms of disabilities over the years. Senator Floyd Morris stands as an outstanding example of how the university nurtures individuals to achieve their goals and aspirations irrespective of their disabilities,” the university said.

“The university currently has 48 registered students who have declared a disability — 25 males and 23 females. Of these students, 17 are blind or visually impaired while the remaining 31 have a physical, hearing or learning challenge. These students are spread across all faculties, including the Faculty of Medical Sciences.

“In 2017, seven students who declared a disability graduated from The UWI, Mona, five of whom did so with first class honours. Students with disabilities have consistently performed well at The UWI, Mona and we will continue to support them throughout their studies with us,” the university said.