Can you become a doctor if....

[TwigtheWonderkid]

you were born without absolutely no sense of smell?

Any doctors on here able to comment.

Thanks.

[hidetheelephants]

No idea, but I can't think of any reason why not; if you wanted to be a pathologist it would be a positive advantage!

[mybrainhurts]

Try blowing your nose....

[turbolucie]

Of course you could!

[rog007]

Yes. There are some niche areas in health where smell can aid diagnosis, but it's of course not essential. Good luck!

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Great, a couple of sensible replies in the end.

Not me, I'm nowhere near clever enough....but my son.

[andrew186]

yes there are no elements of the medical school exams that test your sense of smell

and it might actually help

wards dont smell great - infected wounds, diarrhoea, urine etc

some benefits : distinctive smells that you might need to recognize.. really bad urinary tract infections, bacterial vaginosis, certain types of diarrhoea, malaena (blood in the stools)

[Stedman]

Yes, but not a Gynecologist

[elvismiggell]

Shouldn't be an impediment at all.

Interestingly my other half develops anosmia after a couple of drinks.

[sjabrown]

Anosmia might be an advanatage - I've just spent a warm sunny morning in a nursing home that is carpeted. The stench is something else.

No limitations to entering medical school.

Occasionally useful to aid diagnosis as has been said above.