I suffer with IBS and can't cope with Jury service-AIBU?

[ohfortuna]

It arrived thismorning, the call to do my civic duty.
I would like to do it and I think it could be interesting and rewarding but I have very problematic gut issues about which I get very anxious. Some days I am ok ish-other days it's a case of urgent and prolonged visits to the toilet.
I'm in my mid 50's and have been like this all my adult life, nothing has ever helped so I just learned to accept it and organised my life so that I can cope.

If I fill in the form explaining how this problem affects me will I be granted an exemption?

I'm in my 50s and also suffer from IBS. The way I understand it, is that certain medical conditions exempt you from jury service. They'll probably just ask for some medical evidence re your diagnosis.

Yes, I'm thinking I'll need a note from my GP, thing is I never go to the GP, well I did go once about 20 years ago about my gut issues but the person I saw was unsympathetic and after that I just found my own way's of coping.

If you haven't been formally diagnosed you may have an issue. Call the GP ASAP.

I have a hearing impairment following adult meningitis. I cope well in most circumstances, but when my jury service letter came I had a wobble.

What if I couldn't hear the proceedings properly, oh dear. I was a bit worried about that. Went to the courts to have a look, and sat in the visitor area. I could barely hear what was going on. So that decided me!

GP had no problem giving me a letter to say I was partially deaf. He knows I am, because I have to get him to repeat things too!

Was excused.

I have ulcerative colitis and was exempted after explaining on the form that I have problems with frequency and urgency. No evidence was asked for.

I got a note from my GP and was excused but I have seen them a lot over the years about my IBS and my anxiety. You're going to have to speak to a GP.

YANBU. There is no way i could do jury duty where i couldn't leave when i needed too and immediately for the same reason. you definitely need to see your GP and get medical evidence.

thanks for the responses, it sounds as if I do have good grounds for exemption :)

I'd get a note from a GP - I was called for Jury Service, and had to join a long line of folk pleading that they couldn't do it. Of 20 or so people in front of me, none were given a pass.

On the other hand I sent back the form as soon as I received it explaining that the first day was smack in the middle of the week DS was due and could I defer, and I was excused without any request for evidence, maternity notes, deferment... I suspect they're more lenient if you explain straight away instead of leaving it til the first day of service then trying to get out of it.

They’re not as strict as they make out in the bumf you receive when you get called up.

Someone who I was on jury duty with recently had deferred - because her original slot fell on her 30th and she wanted to go out! So they just called her up at a later date.

Am sure you’ll be fine. Good luck!

I explained I was still breastfeeding my 1 year old (I was at the time) and they asked for a letter from my HV.

Yanbu. So do I and I'm terrified of being called up. I've just had repair work done and no way would I want to risk further damage with jury duty.

Yanbu. So do I and I'm terrified of being called up. I've just had repair work done and no way would I want to risk further damage with jury duty.

I was called for Jury Service, and had to join a long line of folk pleading that they couldn't do it. Of 20 or so people in front of me, none were given a pass
Deary did you fill in the part of the form where they ask for your reason for exemption?

I too have anxiety issues around my IBS and my GP wrote a letter to the clerk of the court and I was exempted.

My dsis got one bang in the middle of a cancer investigation and also her dd has severe epilepsy and she is a carer and other than a paediatric doctor one of the few people able to give her emergency meds. She wrote back immediately explaining and was exempted with no further evidence needed.

I am exempt with crohns

DH was called up and as he is partially deaf there wasn’t a lot of point in him doing jury service. He filled out the form and was given an exemption but wasn’t asked for any further proof.