ࡱ> %` 0#bjbj"x"x 0,@@jjjjjjj ${$     $hj jj  6ggg "j j g ggJjj  p? Q b?<{j,/j8g E" { $$( $$( ~jjjjjj Submission for Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st Century My name is Robert Granger, and I am junior medical doctor at the Royal Hobart Hospital. Prior to starting medical school at the age of 35, I was settling into a career into public health. The decision to return to university was only made after careful consideration of the potential consequences. These included loss of income for six years; sacrificing family and personal pursuits for the rigours of study; and adopting a profession that is known for its exactitude, medico-legal risks, arduous hours, and a lifelong commitment to professional development and learning. As a Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Christian and an observer of the biblical Sabbath (Saturday), I had no difficulties maintaining my convictions throughout the duration of my university studies. When there were exams scheduled on Sabbath, a simple letter from my church pastor was all that was required to change the scheduled exam to another day. I was nave enough to believe that such accommodation of my beliefs would continue indefinitely. During the course of medical training, I quickly became seduced by the surgical disciplines. I graduated from the University of Tasmania in December 2006 with first class honours, knowing that I was going to pursue a surgical career. I completed my internship at the Royal Hobart Hospital in January 2008, and am now finishing my first resident year at the same hospital. At the earliest opportunity (April 2008), I submitted my application for surgical training. Although my applications for ophthalmology and plastic surgery were not successful on this occasion, I was given a national ranking as the 9th top candidate in general surgery in the selection process. I accepted a posting to the training network of my choice (Western Australia), and all was looking promising. It was in late September 2008 that I discovered an unsettling fact: the clinical exams for surgery are held two times each year on Saturdays only. The exams are held on the same day in a number of centres around Australia. I called the Royal Australian College of Surgeons (RACS) in order to enquire into the possibility of doing the exam on another day. I anticipated the response, knowing the personnel and organization required for this style of examination. Typically, a large cohort of consultant surgeons (around 14-20) examine candidates in brief clinical scenarios at a number of testing stations. Unlike a paper test that could be easily changed to another time and location, the implications of moving this exam for a small number of persons are obvious. I was informed by the RACS representative that Saturdays were chosen because of the ease of utilizing empty outpatient clinic rooms in hospitals. While I was not overtly discouraged from appealing, I was told of a recent incident that would suggest the likely outcome. Apparently another SDA surgical trainee had recently requested a change of Saturday exam, and was denied his/her petition after appealing to the highest levels within RACS. I was also told of a number of Jews who had confronted similar problems. I assume that RACS has little incentive to change, as most persons who appeal probably end up capitulating to the inflexible arrangements. I am not averse to challenges, and momentarily considered taking this affront to my religious liberty as a personal mission. In contrast to RACS is the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, who go to great lengths to ensure that the religious convictions of its trainees are respected and upheld. With the new Surgical and Education Training (SET) programme of RACS, all new trainees must pass the generic surgery exams in their first year before progressing to the second year of their training. Once they have passed these initial foundation exams, they are entitled to sit the relevant surgical specialty exams (eg/ plastic surgery, neurosurgery, paediatric surgery, etc). Exam dates are well and truly fixed for 2009. I know that to spend a year in the first year of general surgery in 2009 would not get me any closer, time wise, to the end of training as I would be unable to sit the clinical exam. So I withdrew from the training programme. The costs associated with the application and interview were approximately $1,000, which will need to be repeated should I choose to reapply at a future date. This expense is miniscule in comparison to the income that I will have lost as a consequence of delaying my emergence as a fellowshipped consultant surgeon. Since money takes a very distant second place to principle, I am not regretting my decision to withdraw from the training programme. I have accepted a non-training position as a plastic surgery registrar at Royal Hobart Hospital for 2009. I intend to re-apply for plastic surgery and ophthalmology in 2009 for a potential start in training 2010. I am nonetheless aware that a cultural change within RACS that is, of accommodating for the religious beliefs of its trainees may still not have taken place. In which case, I may find myself in this same position in a years time. It is a disheartening reality when I know that I would make an excellent surgeon. It is hard to believe that Australia would not benefit from a Christian surgeon, and specifically a Seventh-day Adventist surgeon. Unfortunately, many specialties consider theirs to be a privileged specialty, and if I am making demands on the training college due to peculiar beliefs, there are many more persons lining up for the position who will not make such demands on the system. It is true that not all Seventh-day Adventists espouse this level of commitment. I know of many SDA doctors, including surgeons, who have undertaken exams on Saturdays. Although I am unwilling to adopt their reasoning and justification, I nonetheless respect their choices. I see a clear distinction between academic activities and patient care that takes place on Sabbath. In the true tradition of Christ, who took particular joy in healing the infirmed on Sabbath, I also find it a delight to support such persons on Saturday. I have not explored the possibility of there being any legal mandates or imperatives that may force the hand of RACS to accommodate religious convictions such as mine. What I do know is that there are solutions if they would only be willing to consider them. For example: If two clinical exams are continued to be conducted in February and October each year around Australia, one could take place on a Sunday. Or, continue to hold Saturday exams, but offer (at a minimum) one centre in Australia that would provide for Sunday exams. This would be reserved strictly for those with demonstrated religious convictions. It may even be an un-advertised date, whereby persons who express a conviction would be informed of the alternative date. I guess as a worse-case scenario, provision could be made for a fee-for-service styled exam. That is, an exam candidate pay for all costs associated with re-assembling the examination personnel a day later. Dr Robert H. Granger, MBBS, DrPH, MPH 79AB " G R m y %!!!!!"#b#####hz_hhish U}H*h U}h06H*]mH sH h06]mH sH h0'B EBV !!I & FEƀn˦.gd#!"#######kbbbbbb^gd U}I & FEƀn˦.gdI & FEƀn˦.gd.:p|. A!"#$% 666666666vvvvvvvvv666666>6666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666hH666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666D@D ]QNormalCJ_HaJmH sH tH DA@D Default Paragraph FontRiR Table Normal4 l4a (k( No List @O@ O List Paragraph ^m$4U@4 z_ Hyperlink >*phH@H GM% Balloon TextCJOJQJ^JaJ,BEB l l l l l  l  l l EB V@0000000000000 0 0 0BEB V00000000000000 0 0 0000000BEB V00000000000000 0 0 0000000#!##8@0(  B S  ?HJl3BBX78B3^`o(.^`.pL^p`L.@ ^@ `.^`.L^`L.^`.^`.PL^P`L.X7         GM%+8&]z_j U}0@\h p@UnknownCassandra DawesGz Times New Roman5Symbol3& z Arial7K@Cambria5& zaTahoma qhn˦n˦R&(2(224dJ#QH?'Bis2ASubmission for Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st CenturyOffice 2004 Test Drive UserCassandra Dawes Oh+'0x(< T`    DSubmission for Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st CenturyOffice 2004 Test Drive User Normal.dotCassandra Dawes2Microsoft Office Word@F#@.KSB@$;rQ@$;rQ(GQtw U&" WMFC* dVdvl^iQt EMFdv{#a   ^i%  Rp@Cambria7K@Cambri0lN0(dv%  TX_̇@*z@L^ilSubmission for 277S++585)Rp@Cambria#1 0|ˮ0`1 07K@Cambri+7!1/ 0pˮ030lN0(dv% T<X _̇@*z@(L^iFreedom of Religion and Belief in the 215)..42P3;.436464<-.6#5.54Rp@Cambria|! Q|x m|! m| l F|al h ,.f i0h h 7K@Cambri 0h g x0xlN0dv% TX ^0 _̇@*z@ L^iPst% T|. X _̇@*z@. L^i\ Century6-6"6).% TT X _̇@*z@ L^iP : T!_̇@*z@GL^iMy name is Robert Granger, and I am junior medical doctor at the Royal R281S1+>571)"=)1811)187 1S785)T17,175,"5)1""71>531Tx!0_̇@*z@L^i\Hobart E571)" T@ _̇@*z@SL^iHospital. Prior to starting medical school at the age of 35, I was settling into a E5+8"19)5)"5+"1)"81S17,1+,7551""81111577 M1++1""818"51 T  _̇@*z@jNL^icareer into public health. The decision to return to university was only made ,1)11)8"5877,711!7;7171,+58"5)1"7)8"57821)+"2M1+583S171 T8O_̇@*z@RL^iafter careful consideration of the potential consequences. These included loss of 1"1),1)17,58+71)1"585"7185"18"1,58*17718,1+;71+18,77175++5 Tp&j_̇@*z@UL^iXincome8,5S1T'j_̇@*z@'ULL^i for six years; sacrificing family and personal pursuits for the rigours of 5)+0211)++2,),811S218781*+58187)+7"+5)"71)157)+5 Tk_̇@*z@IL^istudy; and adopting a profession that is known for its exactitude, medico+"7721872758"8118)51++58"71"+485M85)"+101,""771S17,5TTk!_̇@*z@L^iP-!Tp"k_̇@*z@"L^iXlegal 111 TT_̇@*z@?LL^irisks, arduous hours, and a lifelong commitment to professional development )+4+1)7757+857)+18711581,5SS"S19""58)51++581712158S18" TU_̇@*z@ L^ihand learning.18711)881TTUV_̇@*z@L^iP ; T_̇@*z@} L^i`As a Seven>+121218TX _̇@*z@}L^iPth"7TT +_̇@*z@ }L^iP-!T,_̇@*z@,}L^itday Adventist (SDA) 712>8218"+"&2B>&T' _̇@*z@} L^i`Christian87)+"18T( ]_̇@*z@( }!L^i and an observer of the biblical 1871857+1)21)5"7177,1 TxH_̇@*z@L^i\Sabbath21771"7TI(_̇@*z@I L^id (Saturday)&11"7)712&T)K_̇@*z@)>L^i, I had no difficulties maintaining my convictions throughout  817857,7"1+S18"1&" WMFC d6dv881S2,582,"58+"7)571857" T|U|_̇@*z@gL^i\the dura"7177)1T,Vu |_̇@*z@Vg%L^ition of my university studies. When t"585S27821)+"2+"771+\718"Tv l |_̇@*z@v g L^idhere were e71)1M1)11Tm |_̇@*z@m gL^ipxams scheduled on 01S++,71771758 T~r_̇@*z@ L^i`Sabbath, 21771"6Ts~0 _̇@*z@sL^ia simple letter from my chur1+S810""1))5ST2,77*T81 ~_̇@*z@1 'L^ich pastor was all that was required to ,781+"5)M1+1"71"M1+)177)17"5 TH, g _̇@*z@R *L^ichange the scheduled exam to another day. ,71811"71+,717717201S"5185"71)712TT- h g _̇@*z@- R L^iP < T / _̇@*z@ JL^iI was nave enough to believe that such accommodation of my beliefs would M1+8121185717"581121"71"+7,71,,5SS571"585S2711+M577 T(1  _̇@*z@ OL^icontinue indefinitely. During the course of medical training, I quickly became ,58"8718718"12A7)81"71,57)+15S18,1")1881 77,4271,1S1 T  _̇@*z@ L^ixseduced by the surgic+177,1772"71+7*1,T R _̇@*z@ <L^ial disciplines. I graduated from the University of Tasmania 17+,881+ 1)1771"17)5S"71A821)+"25<1+S181 T, ] _̇@*z@z PL^iin December 2006 with first class honours, knowing that I was going to pursue a 8B1,1S71)7777M"7)+",1++75857)+486M81"71" M1+1581"687)+711 T E _̇@*z@ KL^isurgical career. I completed my internship at the Royal Hobart Hospital in +7)1,1,1)11) ,5S81"17S28"1)8+781"!71>521E571)"E5+8!18 T vy _̇@*z@d L^iJanuary 2008, and am now 1871)277871871S85MTw y _̇@*z@wd L^i`finishing8+781Tx y _̇@*z@d L^i\ my firS2)T8  1y _̇@*z@ d 'L^ist resident year at the same hospital. +")1+718"211)1""71+1S175+8"1TT2 ky _̇@*z@2d L^iP : T8 =B _̇@*z@- RL^iAt the earliest opportunity (April 2008), I submitted my application for surgical >""7111)1+"5885)"77"2&>8)7877& +77T""17S2188,1"585)+7)1,1 T C % _̇@*z@ NL^itraining. Although my applications for ophthalmology and plastic surgery were ")1881>"75717S2288,1"58+5)587"71S551218781+",+7*21)2M1)1 % T -_̇@*z@8L^inot successful on this occasion, I was given a national 85"+7,,1++758"7+5,,1+58 M1+1218181"581T -_̇@*z@ L^ilranking as the 9)184811+"717Rp@Cambriar ophthalmology and plastic surgery were cal (0&h h 07K@CambridNNh x0xlN0dv% TX  _̇@*z@ L^iPth%% Tl ~-_̇@*z@L^iX top "58 T._̇@*z@L^icandidat&" WMFC ddve in general surgery,18771"181181)1+7)11)2T. _̇@*z@L^i in the selection process8"71+11,"588)5,1++T .G_̇@*z@ L^i. I accepted a posting to the  1,,18"17185+"81"5"71 T_̇@*z@GL^itraining network of my choice (Western Australia), and all was looking ")188181"M5)45S2,75,1&\1+"1)8>7+")11&1871M1+55482 T_̇@*z@w L^i`promising.8)5S+81TT_̇@*z@wL^iP ; T U_̇@*z@@DL^iIt was in late September 2008 that I discovered an unsettling fact: "M1+81"1218!1S70)7877"71" 7+,521)181878+1""811,"T U_̇@*z@ @ L^ihthe clinical "71,8,1 TV_̇@*z@LL^iexams for surgery are held two times each year on Saturdays only. The exams 101S+5)+7*11)22)1817"M5"S1+11,7211*5821"7)712+582;71101S+ T(?_̇@*z@*OL^iare held on the same day in a number of centres around Australia. I called the 1)171758"71+1S17128187S71)5,18")1+1)5787>7+#)11 ,117"71 TA_̇@*z@IL^iRoyal Australian College of Surgeons (RACS) in order to enquire into the >521>7+")11885221527)1158+&>>82&95)71)"51877)18"5"71 T)*_̇@*z@L^ilpossibility of 85++7"25T**_̇@*z@*CL^idoing the exam on another day. I anticipated the response, knowing 7581"71101S58185"71)712 18",80"17"71)1+858*1485M81 T8+H_̇@*z@RL^ithe personnel and organization required for this style of examination. Typically, "7181)+58811875)118-1"58)177)175)"8++"215101S81"58;28,12 Tl _̇@*z@0L^ia large cohort of consultant surgeons (around 1411)11,575)"5,58+7"18"+7)1158+&1)578777TT / _̇@*z@ L^iP-!T0 _̇@*z@0 L^i20) examine candidates in 87&101S81,18781"1+8 T _̇@*z@t L^ibrief clinical scenarios at a nu7)1,8,1+,181)5+1"187T_̇@*z@t3L^imber of testing stations. Unlike a paper test that S71)5"1+"81+"1"58+A84118081)!1+""71" T4\_̇@*z@QL^icould be easily changed to another time and location, the implications of moving ,5777111+2,718118"5185"71)"S11875,1"58"71S8,1"58+5S5281 T t_̇@*z@_4L^ithis exam for a small number of persons are obvious."7+101S5)1+S188S71)581)+58+1)157257+TT  t_̇@*z@ _L^iP ; TD=_̇@*z@(GL^iI was informed by the RACS representative that Saturdays were chosen be M1+85)S2772"71?>82)18)1+18"1"21"71!21"7)712+M1)1,75+1971TpEI=_̇@*z@E(L^iXcause ,17+1 TL>_̇@*z@UL^iof the ease of utilizing empty outpatient clinic rooms in hospitals. WhileH &WMFCddv I was not 5"7111+157"-811S8"257"81"18",7,)55S+875+8"1+\71 M1+85" T('_̇@*z@OL^iovertly discouraged from appealing, I was told of a recent incident that would 521)"27+,57)1127)6S1881181 M1+"5751)1,18"8,718""71!M577 T4(_̇@*z@QL^isuggest the likely outcome. Apparently another SDA surgical trainee had recently +7111+""7141267",6S1>881)18"2185"71(2B>+7)1,1")1811717)1,18"2 Tl_̇@*z@L^iXreque)1771T_̇@*z@FL^isted a change of Saturday exam, and was denied his/her petition after +"171,71811521"7)712101S187M1+718177+171)81""581"1) T4!_̇@*z@rQL^iappealing to the highest levels within RACS. I was also told of a number of Jews 1881181"5"717171+"121+M"78>>82 N1+1+5"575187S71*51M+ T,@_̇@*z@PL^iwho had confronted similar problems. I assume that RACS has little incentive to M75717,59)58"17+S1)8)571S+ 1++7S1"71">>8271+""18,18"21"5 TZq_̇@*z@\L^ichange, as most persons w,718111+S5+"81)+57+MT`[q_̇@*z@[\.L^iho appeal probably end up capitulating to the 75188118)5717218778,18"71"81"5!71 Tr_̇@*z@L^iinflexible arrangements. 810711))1811S18"+TTrM_̇@*z@L^iP ;% 6i6^i6^66h6]h6]66g6\g6\66f6[f6[66e6Ze6Z66d6Yd6Y66c6Xc6X66b6Wb6W66a6Va6V6 6 `6U`6U 6  6 _6T_6T 6  6 ^6S^6S 6  6 ]6R]6R 6  6 \6Q\6Q 6 6[6P[6P66Z6OZ6O66Y6NY6N66X6MX6M66W6LW6L6  3."System-@Cambria- "2 s|5Submission for   @Cambria-G2 s(5Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21          @Cambria-2 o5st-2 s5 Century   - 2 s>5 v2 |G5My name is Robert Granger, and I am junior medical doctor at the Royal             2 y5Hobart y 2 |S5Hospital. Prior to starting medical school at the age of 35, I was settling into a t                  2 |N5career into public health. The decision to return to university was only made                     2 |R5after careful consideration of the potential consequences. These included loss of                 2 |5income  }2 L5 for six years; sacrificing family and personal pursuits for the rigours of            y2 |I5study; and adopting a profession that is known for its exactitude, medicoo             2 |5-2 5legal }2 |L5risks, arduous hours, and a lifelong commitment to professional development                2 | 5and learning.    2 5 2 =| 5As a Seven   2 =5th 2 =5-)2 =5day Adventist (SDA)     2 =n 5Christian  =2 =!5 and an observer of the biblical          2 Q|5Sabbathy  2 Q 5 (Saturday)  h2 Q>5, I had no difficulties maintaining my convictions throughout                2 d|5the dura  C2 d%5tion of my university studies. When t       2 d 5here were e  &2 d5xams scheduled on     2 w| 5Sabbath,   52 w5a simple letter from my chur    F2 w'5ch pastor was all that was required to 1         J2 |*5change the scheduled exam to another day.            2 5 z2 |J5I was nave enough to believe that such accommodation of my beliefs would                 2 |O5continue indefinitely. During the course of medical training, I quickly became                 +2 |5seduced by the surgic     e2 <5al disciplines. I graduated from the University of Tasmania              2 |P5in December 2006 with first class honours, knowing that I was going to pursue a                 |2 |K5surgical career. I completed my internship at the Royal Hobart Hospital in u               12 |5January 2008, and am now h     2 < 5finishing   2 z5 my firaF2 '5st resident year at the same hospital. 1      2 5 2 .|R5At the earliest opportunity (April 2008), I submitted my application for surgical            2 B|N5training. Although my applications for ophthalmology and plastic surgery were                 -_2 U|85not successful on this occasion, I was given a national           #2 U5ranking as the 9    @Cambria-2 Qh5th-2 Ur5 top i 52 h|5candidate in general surgery        12 hF5 in the selection processe    82 h5. I accepted a posting to the       v2 ||G5training network of my choice (Western Australia), and all was looking               2 | 5promising.    2 5 q2 |D5It was in late September 2008 that I discovered an unsettling fact:              2 O 5the clinical   }2 |L5exams for surgery are held two times each year on Saturdays only. The exams                 2 |O5are held on the same day in a number of centres around Australia. I called the                  y2 |I5Royal Australian College of Surgeons (RACS) in order to enquire into the d                "2 |5possibility of  p2 C5doing the exam on another day. I anticipated the response, knowing                2 |R5the personnel and organization required for this style of examination. Typically,                 S2 %|05a large cohort of consultant surgeons (around 14            2 %5-22 %520) examine candidates in     ;2 8| 5brief clinical scenarios at a nu     X2 8N35mber of testing stations. Unlike a paper test that o         2 L|Q5could be easily changed to another time and location, the implications of moving                   Y2 _|45this exam for a small number of persons are obvious.           2 _5 v2 |G5I was informed by the RACS representative that Saturdays were chosen be                2 5cause  2 |U5of the ease of utilizing empty outpatient clinic rooms in hospitals. While I was not                   2 |O5overtly discouraged from appealing, I was told of a recent incident that would                    2 |Q5suggest the likely outcome. Apparently another SDA surgical trainee had recently n                2 |5reque  t2 F5sted a change of Saturday exam, and was denied his/her petition after                2 |Q5appealing to the highest levels within RACS. I was also told of a number of Jews n               2 |P5who had confronted similar problems. I assume that RACS has little incentive to                12 |5change, as most persons wa      P2 8.5ho appeal probably end up capitulating to the           12 |5inflexible arrangements. a     2 ,5 -55555555444444444444333333333333222222՜.+,0, hp  NCAHS2' BSubmission for Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st Century Title  !"#$%&'()*,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz{|}~Root Entry F` QData 1TableWordDocument0,SummaryInformation(+DocumentSummaryInformation8CompObjq  FMicrosoft Office Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.89q