AIBU to practice medicine with self-harm scars?

[OmarComin]

I am a medical student. I suffered from recurrent depression as a child (12 onwards) and have forearms covered in white self-harm scars. I haven't cut myself since I was 19 and am now 27.

NHS policy is "bare below the elbows". My scars are like a network that covers every inch of skin. All flat and faded as much as they ever will be.

They are instantly recognisable as what they are, to anyone who has any familiarity with DSH.

I have tried camouflage make-up, but it rubs off, and is apparently an infection control risk.

There's nothing I can really do about them, but I want to help people. So, Mumsnet, please tell me how you feel: would you want me as your doctor if you saw my arms? Would you see me as less capable of taking care of you?

Thank you.

I have scars up my forearm due to self-harming, one is quite large, although they are faded. I was a student nurse (left end of final year due to health issues) and of course had to be bare below the elbows whilst on placements which I was really really worried about to start with, no one noticed though, the only person who has ever asked was a nurse when I was having blood taken from that arm... patients did not notice though.

OP, all I've read is your original post... I hope you've had lots of positive messages here!
I am sorry you have self harmed in the past, and I am glad you are past that now. I would actually be more open with you, if you were my Dr, I would feel from the very beginning that you would be able to empathise with mental health issues, and far less likely to downplay the effect it has on my life... I don't intend to make it sound like a positive thing that you have suffered, but do feel your level of understanding would be much better, and therefore you would possibly see the treatment of those suffering with mental health concerns as more important than many Drs I have met.

Good luck OP.

I'm going to read the thread now and see what you are thinking of specialising in!!

I also wanted to say, my dad is an alcoholic (14years 1month dry) and he does a lot of work with those who have addictions.

He deals with all sorts, from harm reduction to detox programs, and even CBT (I feel proud of him when I tell people this!)
But he is able to build relationships with people on the basis of his addiction, wheras there are others who my dad works alongside who can't reach some people.

You'll find that your past struggles will help you to build relations with those who need someone who's been there. Please don't question whether you should do this, you definitely should. Your experience will help people.
You will be a more understanding health professional, and equally as important, you will allow people to see that it is possible to overcome SH and be productive.

I'm still not completely free of my mental health demons, and I struggle to see that I will ever be a completely functioning adult. If I had a Dr who had SH scars, I would leave your office feeling inspired to get on with life, and not become a slave to my own demons, because I'd gather that you obviously had. I hope this reads how I meant it!

The scars themselves wouldn't worry me, but the lion taming/ hedgehog 'joke' would probably make me a bit uneasy. I'm not sure why - maybe in a weird way it would suggest that you felt it needed hiding? I'm not sure that being evasive is a good way to build trust, but I can see that it is no business of anyone's really. A very simple 'I had a bad time when I was younger - it's a long time ago' would reassure me much more.

I wouldn't see them as a problem at all, if anything I would be impressed at you coming through that time in your life and being able to help other people in your profession.

If it helps, I'm currently in training to be a nurse so I have to be bare below the elbows. I have very raised, visible scars on my forearms from self harming as a teenager and I have never had any comments on them from patients or colleagues.

I'm a consultant psychiatrist

I would notice if you were my trainee because as someone else said we are trained to notice but I'd never mention it unless you brought it up and it wouldn't affect my opinion of you one way or the other. After a few years of supervising trainees I always keep a big box of tissues in my room because it turns out that everyone has things in their life that affect them whether it shows externally or not.

I think it's likely patients will notice too especially psych patients. Many won't say anything, many will be positive or just mildly curious but some might be unpleasant about it and you'll need to find a way to deal with that.

I wouldn't assume that people are being disingenuous if they ask what the scars are. They might really not know, want it confirmed or just want a way in to talk about it. I probably wouldn't advise making a joke. I would suggest either a brief truthful explanation or its fine to say you don't want to discuss or it or you could ask 'what do you think they are? Why do you ask?' Which might open up something interesting.

You might want to talk about your experiences with patients but sometimes it might not be helpful to you or to them. You'll need to figure out how much to share and when it's appropriate. When people are disinhibited because of mania or psychosis or very distressed for any other reason they will sometimes lash out at their dr and they might say something hurtful about it and you'll need to be prepared for that.

I hope I'm not being off putting. I really do wish you every success in your future career. Psychiatry is the most interesting bit of medicine and we surely need some good people to join us.

I'd mostly be glad you weren't likely to go tacking "evidence of deliberate self-harm" onto letters etc - said "evidence" being scars at least 5 years old & of feck-all relevance

A doctor with visible [old] self-harm scars is a doctor I'd expect to have a high level of empathy & compassion for patients. Certainly I wouldn't have any concerns about their clinical skills or fitness to practice. The same applies to any other HCP.

As for people feeling they have any kind of a right to ask a doctor about scarring, I find that baffling. Would you ask about a facial disfigurement? A missing limb or digit? A limp? Why they use a wheelchair? Is there a line there you wouldn't cross?

Small children asking is one thing - and small children will be satisfied with "I was hurt when I was younger & it left scars". Adults, however, should know better. For some mysterious reason, though, people with disabilities & health problems are routinely asked hugely personal questions about any kind of visible difference they might have, not only by children-small-enough-not-to-understand-boundaries but adults of all ages. I seriously considered getting cards printed when I had an NJ tube for 6 months of last year so many people were either asking about it or just loudly making up nonsense about me within my earshot...

Apologies in advance for the thread hijack but...
Just popping back onto this thread to say thanks to all the Dr's and med students who've replied. Even though this isn't my thread it's really nice to read from you all that MH issues and being a Dr aren't mutually exclusive.

Yours,
Aspiring medic with Bipolar II