Doctor Dinesh Palipana set to be admitted as a lawyer

Talk about a high achiever! Queensland’s first quadriplegic doctor has another impressive title to add to his resume after finishing the degree he enrolled in before his accident in 2010.

QUEENSLAND’S first quadriplegic doctor Dinesh Palipana has got somewhere important to be after he finishes night shift on Monday — his admission ceremony to become a lawyer.

If finishing medical school and becoming a doctor after suffering a severe spinal injury in a car crash wasn’t enough, the Gold Coast emergency department senior resident doctor decided to complete the law degree he started before his accident in 2010.

The 35-year-old will on Monday be admitted to the Queensland legal profession as a solicitor and told The Courier-Mail he will be attending the formalities after finishing night shift at Gold Coast University Hospital, having special permission to show up in his scrubs.

But Mr Palipana isn't planning on leaving the medical world any time soon, saying the law degree will help him advocate for those living with a disability.

Gold Coast doctor Dinesh wont leave medicine but wanted to finish his law degree to help with his advocacy work. Picture: Nigel Hallett.

“A law degree is useful in so many ways and I think it’s another platform to fight from with my advocacy work,” he said.

The doctor also said he wants others with a disability to know they can achieve “as much as they want to” and said he pursued the law degree to “seize life” and make the most of the “privileged position” he believes he’s in.

“I had a significant spinal chord injury but I want others to know, that doesn’t have to stop you and you can do as much as you want,” Mr Palipana said.

“I have a lot to be thankful for and I believe you should do things you have a passion for. I want to seize life and seize the day.”

Brisbane lawyer John Sneddon. Picture: Kit Wise

Mr Palipana’s admission will be moved by Brisbane lawyer John Sneddon, who made headlines in 2014 for his work in helping to bring businessman Marcus Lee back to Queensland after he was arrested in Dubai in 2009.

Mr Sneddon told The Courier-Mail the admission would be “particularly special”.

“Not only is he a former client but he is also a friend,” Mr Sneddon said.

“Dinesh has overcome a dreadful personal setback to become a doctor and now a lawyer.

“I am amazed by his resilience and inner strength. He is a credit to both professions.”

Originally published as Doctor Dinesh Palipana set to be admitted as a lawyer