Comments on: http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/this-patient-is-not-happy-with-indian.html Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:27:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/this-patient-is-not-happy-with-indian.html#comment-84793 Anonymous Sat, 05 Apr 2008 02:33:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/03/20204.html#comment-84793 Don't say anything if you don't have a clue of what you are talking about. First of all, the younger you are introduced to a foreign language the better to learn it without an accent. I can tell you for my own experience, The older you are the heavier the accent. Don't tell me that I should try to loose the accent because I CAN'T. I worked with an expert for about 2 years and was unable to do it(It helped a lot with my pronunciation though). Do you think that we want to have an accent?? OF Course NOT--Especially the way we are treated by some people. Unfortunately we have to live with it. Let me tell you something PRONUNCIATION is the most difficult part of the English Language. I'm fluent and can read and write in English probably better that many native speakers. I Attended an American University and graduated with honors, so LET'S MAKE IT CLEAR "A FOREIGN ACCENT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THAT PERSON IS NOT FLUENT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. Give people some credit for speaking 2 languages, at least we try. Don’t say anything if you don’t have a clue of what you are talking about. First of all, the younger you are introduced to a foreign language the better to learn it without an accent. I can tell you for my own experience, The older you are the heavier the accent. Don’t tell me that I should try to loose the accent because I CAN’T. I worked with an expert for about 2 years and was unable to do it(It helped a lot with my pronunciation though). Do you think that we want to have an accent?? OF Course NOT–Especially the way we are treated by some people. Unfortunately we have to live with it. Let me tell you something PRONUNCIATION is the most difficult part of the English Language. I’m fluent and can read and write in English probably better that many native speakers. I Attended an American University and graduated with honors, so LET’S MAKE IT CLEAR “A FOREIGN ACCENT DOESN’T MEAN THAT THAT PERSON IS NOT FLUENT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. Give people some credit for speaking 2 languages, at least we try.

]]> By: speech coachhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/this-patient-is-not-happy-with-indian.html#comment-82370 speech coach Fri, 21 Dec 2007 04:10:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/03/20204.html#comment-82370 What an interesting series of comments! I definitely agree that clear communication between any health care professional and a patient or patient's family is essential, especially in an emergency or on the telephone. As a corporate speech pathologist in Tennessee who provides foreign accent modification in an intensive 3 day course, I see many foreign-born physicians and others who are highly motivated to pronounce English more clearly. However, often hospitals and other employers are not willing to pay for this training of their employees because they do not feel it is essential.<br/>If you have a physician whom you cannot understand, you need to tell the hospital administrator, personnel director or chief of staff about this, so they know of the need for more training. Patients vote by their feet. If you still get care from that doctor, tell the doctor what you cannot understand, and ask him to speak slower or write the information down. Communication is everyone's responsibility. What an interesting series of comments! I definitely agree that clear communication between any health care professional and a patient or patient’s family is essential, especially in an emergency or on the telephone. As a corporate speech pathologist in Tennessee who provides foreign accent modification in an intensive 3 day course, I see many foreign-born physicians and others who are highly motivated to pronounce English more clearly. However, often hospitals and other employers are not willing to pay for this training of their employees because they do not feel it is essential.
If you have a physician whom you cannot understand, you need to tell the hospital administrator, personnel director or chief of staff about this, so they know of the need for more training. Patients vote by their feet. If you still get care from that doctor, tell the doctor what you cannot understand, and ask him to speak slower or write the information down. Communication is everyone’s responsibility.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/this-patient-is-not-happy-with-indian.html#comment-80895 Anonymous Sat, 13 Oct 2007 15:55:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/03/20204.html#comment-80895 In each country, there are always the intolerant and the tolerant people. The intolerant think that everybody should speak their language fluently with a standardized accent; the other ones reflect.<br/>Tell me who speak the better English: the Americans, the British? They do not have the same accent. Would you rebuke a British physician the same way you did for the Indian one?<br/>The US was build on immigration. The American people should not forget that...<br/><br/>A French physician in the US In each country, there are always the intolerant and the tolerant people. The intolerant think that everybody should speak their language fluently with a standardized accent; the other ones reflect.
Tell me who speak the better English: the Americans, the British? They do not have the same accent. Would you rebuke a British physician the same way you did for the Indian one?
The US was build on immigration. The American people should not forget that…

A French physician in the US

]]> By: no englishhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/this-patient-is-not-happy-with-indian.html#comment-74576 no english Sat, 05 May 2007 00:01:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/03/20204.html#comment-74576 Dear Western Doctors,<br/> English is the only language <br/>that has stolen words from numerous other languages . (pantaloon became<br/>pants,Threys became 3,hastband became husband ,,,,,,,, soon soforth.<br/>)<br/>Moreover all the medical words are nothing but greek and latin.<br/>and not English ,<br/>You can be an american idol but<br/>not understand Simon accent,<br/>What is simon doing in an american Idol anyway?<br/>Look at your back yard First.<br/>Go get a life. Dear Western Doctors,
English is the only language
that has stolen words from numerous other languages . (pantaloon became
pants,Threys became 3,hastband became husband ,,,,,,,, soon soforth.
)
Moreover all the medical words are nothing but greek and latin.
and not English ,
You can be an american idol but
not understand Simon accent,
What is simon doing in an american Idol anyway?
Look at your back yard First.
Go get a life.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/this-patient-is-not-happy-with-indian.html#comment-70271 Anonymous Wed, 10 Jan 2007 02:19:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/03/20204.html#comment-70271 It's interesting how endangered the locals/Americans feel by hard-working, talented immigrants in selective, high-ranking professions in the U.S. Have you run out of other aspects of their work to criticize, in order to deplete their market? Although I agree there often is a language barrier, and that it should be overcome in professions where communication-skills are pivotal, I disagree that the blame lies squarely on the medic's shoulders. Personally, I would prefer hearing correct English with a heavy Indian/foreign accent than hearing incorrect English with an American/local accent. The former would speak volumes about competency, rather than style. It’s interesting how endangered the locals/Americans feel by hard-working, talented immigrants in selective, high-ranking professions in the U.S. Have you run out of other aspects of their work to criticize, in order to deplete their market? Although I agree there often is a language barrier, and that it should be overcome in professions where communication-skills are pivotal, I disagree that the blame lies squarely on the medic’s shoulders. Personally, I would prefer hearing correct English with a heavy Indian/foreign accent than hearing incorrect English with an American/local accent. The former would speak volumes about competency, rather than style.

]]> By: Matthttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/this-patient-is-not-happy-with-indian.html#comment-67570 Matt Sun, 01 Oct 2006 21:29:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/03/20204.html#comment-67570 I'm amazed that this issue as perceived as being purely a linguistic problem by many while you clearly are playing on the stereotypes that have been created about foreign doctors. The writer has a non-linguistic related problem with foreign doctors. <br/><br/>The question of adequate testing doesnot hold water as another author pointed out the simulated clinical part of the exam which will surely weed out clinicians without adequate language skills. <br/><br/>Accents are exactly what they are. Move a hundred miles and it changes. I have seen patients and physicians (AMerican born and bred) struggle with the accents in the top hospital that I work in, a place that draws patients from all around the US. What makes this hospital really great is their policy of hiring the best, irrespective where they are from. This has contributed to the breakthroughs that we see here. This to me is only a small model of what the ideal academic, cutting edge hospital should be. Isn't this what America is about? <br/> <br/>As much as we may bemoan midicine in this country, it still is the best in the world, and with no small contribution from "foreign doctors" who can "speak little english". <br/>Drive out all the foreign MD's and see what happens to the health care access. It's ridiculous to also assume that these doctors find work only with HMO's. Take a look at any of the premier hospitals, if you haven't been to one. <br/>Those who complain about defensive medicine pushing up health care costs should not forget that the doctors are defending themselves from the lawsuits, warranted or frivolous, by the patients, and hence, patients too have to take the blame for it. This is not how medicine was 30 yrs ago. <br/><br/>What exactly do you mean by good english? I would challenge the writer to understand in the first try, what anyone from London says (forget liverpool or newcastle). Does that mean that the British can't speak english? <br/><br/>Rather than make excuses, why not try "can you speak a little slower doc, I can't understand you". <br/>If the writer is so concerned, she should be prepared to pay higher taxes, so more American students may go to medical school, funded by the state, without the fear of a $300000 debt at the end of it. Also, more americans should be willing to dedicate 7-12 years after graduation from college, working 70-80 hours a week for minimum wage or less and studying the rest of the time. If you call that purely financial motivation, then I feel sorry for you. <br/><br/>Can you all honestly say that you understand every person, irrespective of their colour and origin, as long as they are american? If not, take off the mask and acknowledge your real feelings. I’m amazed that this issue as perceived as being purely a linguistic problem by many while you clearly are playing on the stereotypes that have been created about foreign doctors. The writer has a non-linguistic related problem with foreign doctors.

The question of adequate testing doesnot hold water as another author pointed out the simulated clinical part of the exam which will surely weed out clinicians without adequate language skills.

Accents are exactly what they are. Move a hundred miles and it changes. I have seen patients and physicians (AMerican born and bred) struggle with the accents in the top hospital that I work in, a place that draws patients from all around the US. What makes this hospital really great is their policy of hiring the best, irrespective where they are from. This has contributed to the breakthroughs that we see here. This to me is only a small model of what the ideal academic, cutting edge hospital should be. Isn’t this what America is about?

As much as we may bemoan midicine in this country, it still is the best in the world, and with no small contribution from “foreign doctors” who can “speak little english”.
Drive out all the foreign MD’s and see what happens to the health care access. It’s ridiculous to also assume that these doctors find work only with HMO’s. Take a look at any of the premier hospitals, if you haven’t been to one.
Those who complain about defensive medicine pushing up health care costs should not forget that the doctors are defending themselves from the lawsuits, warranted or frivolous, by the patients, and hence, patients too have to take the blame for it. This is not how medicine was 30 yrs ago.

What exactly do you mean by good english? I would challenge the writer to understand in the first try, what anyone from London says (forget liverpool or newcastle). Does that mean that the British can’t speak english?

Rather than make excuses, why not try “can you speak a little slower doc, I can’t understand you”.
If the writer is so concerned, she should be prepared to pay higher taxes, so more American students may go to medical school, funded by the state, without the fear of a $300000 debt at the end of it. Also, more americans should be willing to dedicate 7-12 years after graduation from college, working 70-80 hours a week for minimum wage or less and studying the rest of the time. If you call that purely financial motivation, then I feel sorry for you.

Can you all honestly say that you understand every person, irrespective of their colour and origin, as long as they are american? If not, take off the mask and acknowledge your real feelings.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/this-patient-is-not-happy-with-indian.html#comment-65733 Anonymous Wed, 02 Aug 2006 17:09:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/03/20204.html#comment-65733 <i>Sorry, but I speak English,I don't understand people from other countries or one that come here and have a heavy accent for that matter.</i><br/><br/>Sorry, but you don't. Sorry, but I speak English,I don’t understand people from other countries or one that come here and have a heavy accent for that matter.

Sorry, but you don’t.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/this-patient-is-not-happy-with-indian.html#comment-65732 Anonymous Wed, 02 Aug 2006 17:07:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/03/20204.html#comment-65732 This could only have been written by a monolingual American.<br/>India is a former British colony. Most educated Indians have a better grasp of the English language than comparably educated Americans.<br/>Speaking with an accent is not the same thing as not understanding standard English.<br/>The patient's understanding of the doctor is another matter, but there is absolutely no reason to question a doctor's understanding of the patient based on the doctor's accent.<br/>I see that someone has posted similar points, and more eloquently, but I'm posting this anyway to add my voice to those taking exception to this sort of ignorance. This could only have been written by a monolingual American.
India is a former British colony. Most educated Indians have a better grasp of the English language than comparably educated Americans.
Speaking with an accent is not the same thing as not understanding standard English.
The patient’s understanding of the doctor is another matter, but there is absolutely no reason to question a doctor’s understanding of the patient based on the doctor’s accent.
I see that someone has posted similar points, and more eloquently, but I’m posting this anyway to add my voice to those taking exception to this sort of ignorance.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/this-patient-is-not-happy-with-indian.html#comment-61696 Anonymous Fri, 07 Apr 2006 23:58:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/03/20204.html#comment-61696 <i>Out of hundreds of people those few months maybe one made use of the pads. Most all would like for me to write down their diagnosis, their prognosis, their treatment, etc. but a scant few are willing to do it themselves.</i><br/><br/>If you tell them something simple, like "Take this pill twice a day with food," they don't write it down because it's so simple they're sure they'll remember it.<br/><br/>If you tell them something more complicated, like the specific name of their condition, they don't write it down because they have no idea how to spell it. They haven't been to med school. Out of hundreds of people those few months maybe one made use of the pads. Most all would like for me to write down their diagnosis, their prognosis, their treatment, etc. but a scant few are willing to do it themselves.

If you tell them something simple, like “Take this pill twice a day with food,” they don’t write it down because it’s so simple they’re sure they’ll remember it.

If you tell them something more complicated, like the specific name of their condition, they don’t write it down because they have no idea how to spell it. They haven’t been to med school.

]]> By: Employmentforphysicianshttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/this-patient-is-not-happy-with-indian.html#comment-61132 Employmentforphysicians Mon, 27 Mar 2006 13:39:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/03/20204.html#comment-61132 <b>Yes, I agree with your article: Doctors need to be able to understand English</b> Yes, I agree with your article: Doctors need to be able to understand English

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