Epilepsy keeping chef out the kitchen - Says he can’t get employment due to diagnosis

Growing up, Mark* had his eyes focused on a career in the culinary field, and he even has a first degree in the subject area.

But he said he is unable to land a job because he has epilepsy, a chronic brain disorder characterised by recurrent, unprovoked seizures. Mark said he lived a fairly normal life until 2021, when he had a sudden seizure while on vacation. He was later diagnosed. Since then, he has done several interviews but they all went south once he mentioned epilepsy.

"A few even told me that I am more qualified than other applicants but said they aren't comfortable with my condition," he said, adding that his prayers were briefly answered recently.

"I got a supervisory job before but when the head chef found out that I had epilepsy, he said he was not comfortable working with people like me. I was let go just three days into the job and I have not been able to got another since," he said. He insisted that he only has one seizure a year, and it doesn't render him immobile.

"I would want a company to just hire me or give me a probationary period to see if the epilepsy will actually affect my job," he said.

Currently, the 24-year old operates his own catering business but told THE WEEKEND STAR that he would like to expand.

"I do like pop-up kitchens and do catering and so on, but I would want something more permanent," he said.

"I feel discriminated and I don't want to lie on my resume about my situation. When you are applying for an internship overseas and you mention epilepsy, you are not turned down but you apply for a job in your home country and don't get it. If this continues then a lot of local talents are going to go overseas," he added. He said he has applied for other jobs within the culinary field, including as a restaurant manager, but was told that he does not have the experience.

But prominent neurosurgeon Dr Roger Hunter says employers are right to be cautious.

"Being a chef can be dangerous because he can burn himself as well as others. Having an attack once a year means that the condition is well controlled, but it depends on what you are doing, and being a chef would be a high-risk job. The heat can also trigger epilepsy as well. There are some jobs that he frankly cannot get and there is just no two ways about it. Epilepsy is a chronic condition and the kitchen is not the best place for an epileptic," he said.

He stated that even some desk jobs may be difficult.

"So a person may need blue light dimming covers over the [computer] screen so that it doesn't keep flickering. You should avoid flashing lights as this can trigger an attack. Epilepsy doesn't give warning signs and can attack at any time and if it is controlled there is something called sudden death in epilepsy. That one can kill you even if you are not having a seizure as the medication is thought to affect the heart and it can cause an electrical rhythm in the heart and cause the heart to stop," Hunter said.

But after all his studying, Mark said changing careers is not an option, especially as his loved ones have dug deep into their pockets to pay for his tuition.

*name changed to protect identity