Australian Story: Feb 25

Monday’s Australian Story features “The Man in Bed 10,” the story of trailblazing, quadriplegic doctor Dinesh Palipana.

“When he was not given a job, I was outraged. There’s no other word for it, this is discrimination.” – Dr Harry McConnell, Griffith University

“Dinesh totally challenged us all. He was ready to shine, he was ready to prove something.” – Dr Liz Fitzmaurice, Griffith University

Australian Story profiles quadriplegic doctor Dinesh Palipana and his inspiring journey to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Dr Palipana hit the headlines when he was denied a job after graduating medical school; he was the only one of his classmates not to be offered a job by Queensland Health in 2016 – leading to claims of discrimination.

Six months passed before he got the call to start work as an intern at Gold Coast Hospital, where he is now one of its top young medicos.

“Many of his supervisors have said that he’s the best intern they’ve ever had,” said Professor Harry McConnell of Griffith University School of Medicine.

Gold Coast Hospital plans to keep him on for many years into the future.

“In Dinesh’s case, we did not employ him because of his disability, he’s being employed by us because he’s a bloody good doctor,” said hospital chairman Ian Langdon.

Dinesh Palipana was driving home on a dark and rainy night in Brisbane in 2010 when his car slid off the road, rolled over and crashed into a concrete barrier.

Unable to feel anything in his arms and legs, he knew as a third-year medical student that his spine had been damaged and his life had changed forever.

Not even his best friends thought he would be able to finish medical school.

“I was the one who had to point out he had to be realistic. The task of being a doctor involves a lot of physical skills,” said Professor Simon Broadley, Dean of Medicine at Griffith University.

Five years later, Dinesh returned to the campus and worked hard to become the first quadriplegic to graduate from medical school in Queensland history.

He is unable to move his fingers but manages to examine patients using the side of his right hand, which has some sensation.

“I’ve had to find ways to do things just using the natural grip of my hand, and my knuckles and my wrists,” says Dr Palipana.

“I’ve just found ways to do different things with what I have.”

Producer: Ben Cheshire

8pm Monday on ABC.