Issue required certificate to law student seeking scribe for upcoming exams due to Fibromyalgia: Kerala HC to doctors

Thiruvananthapuram: Considering a petitioner's need for reasonable accommodations in her academic pursuits, the Kerala High Court directed the District Medical Officer, Thrissur ('DMO') and the Superintendent of the Thrissur General Hospital to constitute a Medical Board to issue the required certificate to a 22-year-old law student to avail the assistance of a scribe for writing her upcoming exams.

A single bench Justice T.R. Ravi said "There will be an interim direction to respondents 5 and 6 to consider Exts.P7 and P8 and constitute a Medical Board for issuing required Certificate to the petitioner if the petitioner is entitled to avail Scribe for writing the exams which are notified to commence from 20-11-2023. Necessary Certificates shall be granted on or before 18-11-2023."

The order was delivered after the petitioner alleged that she submitted representations to the Principal of the College and the Controller of Examinations, seeking the aid of a scribe for writing the exam, after the University notified the commencement of the 7th semester on November 20, 2023. However, the authorities informed the petitioner that she must obtain a certificate from the Medical Board established at the District Hospital, Thrissur, in order to engage a scribe.

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Following this, she alleged that no action was taken by the DMO and the Superintendent of the Thrissur General Hospital when she approached them for the same. As a result, she moved to the court seeking the issuance of the certificate for the assistance of a scribe.

The court's intervention in instructing the formation of a Medical Board emphasizes the need to consider and respond to the specific needs of individuals with disabilities.

According to Live law reports, the law student, presently in the 10th semester of the 5-year integrated LL.B. Course at Government Law College, Thrissur, has disclosed that she is grappling with chronic Fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain and spinal cord process painful and nonpainful signals.

She emphasized that the ailment causes intense pain and weakness, adversely affecting her daily activities. Furthermore, she highlighted that her writing speed significantly decreases during assignments due to the pain and weakness associated with Fibromyalgia.

To view the official order click on the link below:

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