Medical Resident’s Sleep-Deprivation Claim Fails

(CN) - The University of North Dakota did not commit disability discrimination when it dismissed a sleep-deprived student from a medical residency program, the North Dakota Supreme Court ruled.

Sarmed Abdullah enrolled in the University of North Dakota's medical residency program after failing in similar programs at two other colleges.

Abdullah was also dismissed in North Dakota, this time for "incompetence in the area of professionalism."

His supervisor, Dr. David Thiege, wrote that Abdullah had failed to disclose the first of his two previous failed residency program, and that he initiated a home visit without proper supervision."

Abdullah was ultimately suspended after his behavior made a staff member feel "very frightened and unsafe."

After his dismissal, Abdullah sued the university for breach of contract and violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Justice Maring agreed with the district court that the Abdullah's contract claim must fail because the evidence supported the university's claim that he lacked professionalism.

Maring also ruled that Abdullah did not make a strong case that his bouts with sleep deprivation constituted a disability, and that the school dismissed him because of that disability.

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