English: Should doctors speak it?

I saw a topic on "The Wright Stuff" TV show page about whether or not foreign doctors working here should be able to speak English. It struck me as odd that anyone should be able to get such a job without knowing the language. The scenario that came to my mind was of an ill person performing "charades", pointing and making faces to try to convey what's wrong. Even if they could speak English the amount of technical, medical language they would have to know would be phenomenal wouldn't it? Sounds like mistakes could be made. What do you think?

Re: English: Should doctors speak it?

Not only should they be able to speak it they should be able to understand and also able to make them selves understood.

Related topic is should they be able to perform a proper examination ? one of our GP's will not touch women, not even accidental hand touching, nurses take blood and blood pressure as his religion/culture means he will not touch a woman other than his wife.

Re: English: Should doctors speak it?

An 'impossible' task surely, if they cannot speak English !
Are you sure about this Twiz - I mean that programme isn't clear cut credance is it

Re: English: Should doctors speak it?

That's what it said last night. Didn't say where they took it from but we are terribly short of doctors & nurses, a Somerset hospital which is failing is getting nurses from Spain. Tried to find it today but looks like it's been withdrawn. Too sensitive probably. I wouldn't say it was racist though, just very worrying!

Re: English: Should doctors speak it?

Pats our out of hours service has many doctors who don't speak English some have translators with them and some use their computers to translate what is being said, last one we had to call was a German gentleman I am sure he was very nice but it was like a game of guess the word with drawings and miming included !

Re: English: Should doctors speak it?

From April there will be a legal duty to ensure a doctor's English is up to scratch before they are employed.

Foreign doctors will have to prove they can speak a "necessary level of English" before they are allowed to treat patients in hospitals or in GP surgeries, the Department of Health said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21547513

Re: English: Should doctors speak it?

How much is "necessary"? Surely the whole of what they learned in training has to be there! I'm sure they're qualified and capable.

Re: English: Should doctors speak it?

Re: English: Should doctors speak it?

Hello Rena - that should put some minds at rest .... thanks

Re: English: Should doctors speak it?

It's nonsense that they can't. How can they make an informed diagnosis when they can't understand what the patient is saying?

Also a patient sometimes needs reassuring that all is being done to make them comfortable and they are being given the right treatment.

Julie's example of a doctor not examining a woman patient is because of their religion or culture beyond belief. What would happen in an emergency I wonder. Weren't they taught the Hippocratic Oath during training or don't they follow that mantra.