Avoidable death

what ever you say it's right,grass uper,how much did you sell me for?

Oh yes - most definately. My friend was recently an out-patient in a local Hospital. She just had minor surgery that meant she came in for the day, and was allowed out in the evening. Not surprisingly she had a few questions before she left - just basic stuff about any side-effects she might expect etc., but none of the nurses or Doctors in the Hospital spoke good enough English to be able to explain it to her. I am not prejudiced in any way. My own Mother was from Eastern Europe, and my partner is from South America, so I know about the difficulties of living, and working in a "foreign" country, but if they both did it -so can anyone else - especially those with our health in their hands.

Hello ,urban ! I wasted almost 6000 dollars on exams and a trip to the UK to sit for the PLAB exam with the General Medical Council (GMC) . Although I failed the final test (the reason is irrelevant ,I got almost full scores in English (8.5 out of 9) and the theory exam , but in the VIVA exam I got a PANIC ATTACK triggered by my INFERIORITY COMPLEX with CAUCASIANS on one hand ,and by the obvious LOATHING of some of the INDIAN examiners ) ,inspite of that , I could see from the examples of other doctors from my country there and from the overwhelming predominance of INDIANS that my chances were slimmer than slim at getting a job even if I had passed the test . The INDIANS have the advantage of having COMPATRIATES in all hospitals and boards within the UK , plus they are on the average SEVERAL years younger than me , which allows them to work for free (attachment) for many years before actually getting a paying job . Most of them had bad English , EVEN THE INDIANS ON THE EXAMINATION COMMITTEES !! Another group I found disproportionately (with their skills) represented were AFRICAN doctors , the color of their skins seemed to work like a charm (on chicks ,too ) and they get employed right away ,as if the employers were atoning for something that way . .To put in nutshell I disregarded the UK as a job alternative , I am now trying for Canada or US , do pray that I get a job there ! (people less experienced and younger than me and with lower grades both in medicine AND English left this country and landed jobs paying 10 , 000 Canadians /month , whereas I am working for only 200 US dollars /month :( !!!

Yeah I believe that if anyone is living in a country that speaks a language different than their own they should learn this language. Doctors, school children, teachers, customer service reps as well. What can you contribute to that society if you can't properly communicate?

Yes, it's not good if deaths result from a language problem. Here in New Zealand, we see the other side of the coin. Highly skilled and competent professionals who emigrate here aren't able to get jobs because of the language issues. It's a kind of catch 22

Thats shocking that this sort of thing can happen, but it doesn't really surprise me. It does surprise me though, that educated people like this doctor don't make a real effort to learn the language properly. It also surprises me that any country would let a doctor into the country, recognize their qualifications and allowed them to practice, but not care about their language skills... thats just pathetic... This thing must happen in the US too. I was just watching a rerun of Seinfeld last night, and it featured a doctor who didn't know English. It was funny on TV, but in real life it is disgraceful.