The faculty therefore, must consider carefully the personal and emotional characteristics, motivation, industry, maturity, resourcefulness, and personal health of the aspiring physician. Technological compensation can be made for disabilities in certain of these areas, but a candidate should be able to perform certain basic functions in a reasonably independent manner. The use of a trained intermediary to observe or interpret information or to perform procedures is deemed to compromise the essential function of the physician and may jeopardize the safety of the patient. The candidate must be able to observe demonstrations and experiments in basic sciences. A candidate must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand.
Observation necessitates the functional use of the sense of vision and somatic sensation.
It is enhanced by the functional use of the sense of smell. A candidate should be able to speak, to receive information in oral form, and to observe patients in order to elicit information, to describe changes in mood, activity and posture, and to perceive non-verbal communications. A candidate must be able to communicate effectively with patients. Communication includes not only speech, but also reading and writing. The candidate must be able to communicate effectively, efficiently and rapidly, when required, in oral and written form with patients and with all members of the health care team.