A year ago one of Sweden's top medical schools expelled a student for being a Nazi sympathizer and convicted murderer. Well, the student, Karl Svennson, was admitted to another top Swedish med school and then expelled for falsifying records. Crazy and complicated? Yes. But, unlike the good ole U.S. of A., the Swedish government believes once a convicted felon serves their time, that former-felon deserves access to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness [including a medical career].
In 2002 the Association of American Medical Colleges tightened their entry requirements. Not only does a med school applicant have to provide satisfactory MCAT scores, the applicant must also provide military discharge history as well as felon history. So if you acted a fool in the military or served time for armed robbery you're not attending med school in this country.
What's the story? Do our recovered felons deserve an all-access life?
Keith Josef Adkins is an award-winning playwright, screenwriter and social commentator.