Sub Standard Doctors When will we say Enough is Enough

[XW_GS]

Ladies/Gents,
this may border on me being racist but really enough is enough.
I took Thursday afternoon off so i can get my cortisone shot in my heal to relieve the pain from Plantar Fasciitis.

I was sent down to a clinic on Nepean Highway so i can get the procedure done. It was to be an ultrasound guided injection.

Had been booked a week in advance.

I got there right on time at 1pm for me to be told to come back at 3.45.

I thought no probs.

Got back at 3.45 to wait till 4.30 for an Indian "Doctor" to tell me he doesnt know how much to administer. I said "ring my doctor"

He finally 'fessed up by telling me that he had never given anyone a cortisone injection!?

I said to him, "mate its quite a common procedure but you are right, you arent doing it"

I told his receptionist and she looked at me in disbelief.

By Now its after 5pm. I ring my doctor for another referal he said it will be at reception. No Probs got it and drove home.

By now most radiology places are shut but i rang MIS at Moorabin Hospital.

The girl there was so helpful, she rang around for me and made an appointment the next morning at Prahran.

I had an Elderly Aussie gentleman of a doctor. He said that he does 30 - 50 cortisine injections per day, mainly to main footy players who have the same problem.

I told him of my ordeal the day before, he said well sadly, we are getting all of the rejects from around the world, mainly Indian and Asian.

I said to him i really dont care if they are Afgani as long as they have grown up here, Studied here, understand our culture can speak to me in some sort of language that i can understand (and dont emit unpleasant odours.)

Really!!

And this is coming from an Aussie born with a Greek background.
I now flatly refuse to see non Australian or Australian born doctors or at least sound like they have been here a while

This is but only one story of my experiences.

I do have an Aussie born Asian dentist who is fantastic.

apart from the fact that i lost so many hours of work

am i wrong to be so upset???

[Scott]

Mate, you're not alone. I knew what you were going to say before I opened the thread. I don't care if the Cookie Monster is gonna make me "cough" so long as he understands what I say to him, is trained to a true Australian level and has the courtesy to warm his hands first.

[uranium_death]

Are there medical forums?

Here in Glen Waverley, big influx of Asian doctors.
Mine is Chinese, but we've been seeing him for 28 years (25 for me).

But in Glen Waverley, we have a lot of FOBS who hate speaking English, and REFUSE to see anybody not of their culture.

That's life.

I think finding a GOOD new doctor once I go my own way will be hard...

[Barry_v]

a friend of mine was told by one of these clowns that he didnt have a hernia....

the 2 surgeons who had performed operations on him previously must have been mistaken.

[ltd]

It is common knowledge that due to a shortage of doctors, we have been importing them in droves. That bastard purtell or whatever in America on trial at the moment is an import for Queensland Health, as well as Mohammed Haneef (the guy deported for terrorism related charges - now a political pointscoring football used by KRudd).
The sad thing is that we have an ageing population so this is only going to get worse. I have been fortunate in my GP having several doctors all of which have been great, but now they have moved and been absorbed by a very large medical centre, and getting an appointment is not always easy. If their English is good I find most of the chinese doctors to be outstanding, and the doctors atleast have a great sense of humour too. My doctor was a fella called Tong and whenever I'd walk into his office he'd say; "Mate, how's it going?" in a real aussie accent.
As for the others though I refuse to see an indian doctor, since I was in year 2 at school and they had one checking balls (I guess for hernia).
Anyway I digress, mate I sympathise and agree but be prepared for some may call you racist; but others like myself will call you truthful.

[fmc351]

Originally Posted by ltd

I was in year 2 at school and they had one checking balls (I guess for hernia).

You had what now?

You went to a strange school.

[aye you]

we had a similar problem with my Dad. He'd been sick for ages, no energy, couldn't keep food down etc, so he decieded to see a doctor. Went to the Docs, saw an indian fella who thought it was the old mans kidneys. weeks go by of him having tests to figure out what was wrong with his kidneys. I get home one night to find him on the floor unable to get up, i had to dead lift him, all 140kgs of him to the chair, went to chuck a fresh shirt on, came back and he couldn't remember me getting home. SO i thought right thats it, called an ambulance (his the 2ic of the ambo service up here). The ambos get here take his bp, 180/100 holy ! Shove him into the ambulance and race him to hospital, retake his BP 220/130 odd. the doctors in the ER go into overdrive trying to lower his BP. he ends up staying for 2 weeks in ICU as they try to control his BP and subsequently the swelling to his brain as a result (this caused the memory issues) then another 2 weekings in HDU to finish with a week in general ward. Turns out this Indian chap didn't once check dads BP instead jumped to the conclusion it was his kidneys. He had been hypertensive for so long that his kidneys are rooted and he needs a transplant in the near future. And the ER doc's reckon he should have died a that night he got there.

In short, a doctor, who could barely speak english, failed to do the most basic diagnosis task very nearly killed my father, prolonged damage to his kidneys and is the main cause, occording to the ER doc's, of him needing a transplant.

So yes, I don't mind doctors from other countries working in Australia but when they can barely speak our language, and would probably fail a medical test thats when i get narkey.

[Feathers]

The doctor I went to at the local medical centre here, I saw in the paper a few weeks later got struck off the medical register for prescribing addicts enough drugs to do themselves in (which 2 of them did).

I only went to him for medical certificates for work.
When you walked in and said you had a cold he'd ask "How many days do you want off?"

[LTDHO]

Don't start me on Doctors.
They 'practice' for a reason, that is they have NFI what they are doing.

[gtfpv]

Originally Posted by XWGS351

Ladies/Gents,
this may border on me being racist but really enough is enough.
I took Thursday afternoon off so i can get my cortisone shot in my heal to relieve the pain from Plantar Fasciitis.

I was sent down to a clinic on Nepean Highway so i can get the procedure done. It was to be an ultrasound guided injection.

Had been booked a week in advance.

I got there right on time at 1pm for me to be told to come back at 3.45.

I thought no probs.

Got back at 3.45 to wait till 4.30 for an Indian "Doctor" to tell me he doesnt know how much to administer. I said "ring my doctor"

He finally 'fessed up by telling me that he had never given anyone a cortisone injection!?

I said to him, "mate its quite a common procedure but you are right, you arent doing it"

I told his receptionist and she looked at me in disbelief.

By Now its after 5pm. I ring my doctor for another referal he said it will be at reception. No Probs got it and drove home.

By now most radiology places are shut but i rang MIS at Moorabin Hospital.

The girl there was so helpful, she rang around for me and made an appointment the next morning at Prahran.

I had an Elderly Aussie gentleman of a doctor. He said that he does 30 - 50 cortisine injections per day, mainly to main footy players who have the same problem.

I told him of my ordeal the day before, he said well sadly, we are getting all of the rejects from around the world, mainly Indian and Asian.

I said to him i really dont care if they are Afgani as long as they have grown up here, Studied here, understand our culture can speak to me in some sort of language that i can understand (and dont emit unpleasant odours.)

Really!!

And this is coming from an Aussie born with a Greek background.
I now flatly refuse to see non Australian or Australian born doctors or at least sound like they have been here a while

This is but only one story of my experiences.

I do have an Aussie born Asian dentist who is fantastic.

apart from the fact that i lost so many hours of work

am i wrong to be so upset???

i sympathise with you mate. that's not on.
unfortunately though , some indian and asian doctors are also at the top of the field , so it's not a race thing. it's a training thing. perhaps the australian governments fault more than anything else.
however. you are right, your life is not worth risking incompetancy, under any guise.

[pauljh74]

Originally Posted by Feathers

The doctor I went to at the local medical centre here, I saw in the paper a few weeks later got struck off the medical register for prescribing addicts enough drugs to do themselves in (which 2 of them did).

I only went to him for medical certificates for work.
When you walked in and said you had a cold he'd ask "How many days do you want off?"

Dr Howlong was it?

[GK]

Originally Posted by Feathers

The doctor I went to at the local medical centre here, I saw in the paper a few weeks later got struck off the medical register for prescribing addicts enough drugs to do themselves in (which 2 of them did).

I only went to him for medical certificates for work.
When you walked in and said you had a cold he'd ask "How many days do you want off?"

Doctor How Many! LOL

GK

[BFYOOT]

mate sorry to deviate from your direction with the thread, but have you seen a Podiatrist for the plantarfasciitis?

[Gaz]

maybe there wouldn't be a problem if it wasn't so hard to get into med?

I know many smart people who have been rejected. Surely making more spaces available and lowering the grades a bit wouldn't be a problem.

I sure as hell know id rather a Australian trained doctor even if they had lower marks than a foreign imported doctor.

[The G6ET Spot]

Don't talk to me about doctors. I'm fed up with them after the last 7 weeks.
I had an argument on Tuesday with my specialist when he wouldn't give a clearance to drive. I can see out of my left eye now after my injury. But he says that I can't see enough, without even doing a test.That was enough for me I snapped and told him exactly what I thought.

I went to my own optometrist today and had the test done there. He said that I would have enough sight to pass the test for my commercial licence, let alone to drive a car. But as I need clearance from the specialist I am under. I can't drive until I have that.

Monday morning will seee me at the specialists office and I'll shove the test result down his throat.

And surprise,surprise, he's an Indian as well. I'm fed up with them just playing around with everyones lives and not giving a stuff.

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by RAPID XR8

Don't talk to me about doctors. I'm fed up with them after the last 7 weeks.
I had an argument on Tuesday with my specialist when he wouldn't give a clearance to drive. I can see out of my left eye now after my injury. But he says that I can't see enough, without even doing a test.That was enough for me I snapped and told him exactly what I thought.

I went to my own optometrist today and had the test done there. He said that I would have enough sight to pass the test for my commercial licence, let alone to drive a car. But as I need clearance from the specialist I am under. I can't drive until I have that.

Monday morning will seee me at the specialists office and I'll shove the test result down his throat.

And surprise,surprise, he's an Indian as well. I'm fed up with them just playing around with everyones lives and not giving a stuff.

I see your point.

[Kryton]

i broke my nose at work a couple of years ago, went to the Hospital and got 'treated' by a doctor of a non Australian (or native english speaking) background.
he told me what i knew - my nose was broken and then proceeded to asked me if i was OK to go back to work for the rest of the day.................
i mean really.......i just broke my nose, this isnt some 3rd world country where you go back to work the same day as having a hand removed.

'treatment' was a Medical Certificate for work stating that i had SPRAINED MY NOSE....
im serious.

[fmc351]

Originally Posted by Gaz

maybe there wouldn't be a problem if it wasn't so hard to get into med?

I know many smart people who have been rejected. Surely making more spaces available and lowering the grades a bit wouldn't be a problem.

I sure as hell know id rather a Australian trained doctor even if they had lower marks than a foreign imported doctor.

what? You should have started that post with "Hi everybody".


Poorly trained, or hopelessly unskilled quacks are useless no matter where they come from.

[mattp]

They're certainly increasing the intake to most medical schools around the country every year, significantly in fact, some are almost double what they were a couple of years ago, plus there are new schools popping up in a couple of places. They still needs to be careful vetting and accreditation though, you say you'd be happy with less intensively trained Australian doctors, but what about when they are treating your family?

[chief]

I hadn't seen a doctor in nearly 6 years. (6 years of boarding school toughens up your immune system). I thought why not go see a doctor and have a check. I spent more time waiting to see this Indian doctor than actually seeing him. For my check up he took my heart rate, blood pressure, put his stethoscope on my back and asked if I had erection problems or bowel problems. Thats it. That was my medical check up. Didn't even get me to jump on the scales to take my weight, ask any other questions like what food do I eat, how much alcohol I consume, my sleeping patterns,if I feel larthagic.

I have an ulcerated mouth from the gum growing over the wisdom teeth. So when I chew my food I am biting my gums = very painful and a white mouth and gums, not fleshy pink in colour. Go to Triage at the hospital, wait two hours, to see an Asian doctor. I tell him I have terrible pains in my mouth. His response was "I do not look in mouths" That was it. He refused to inspect it. I see my Asian dentist who diagnosed it immediately gave me a prescription for some mild pain killers until I could have he teeth out. The dentist told me any doctor would now what ulcers look like and could of been able to diagnose it

[saber]

Like a previous poster said, some of the asian and indian doctors are fantastic. I had a mole removed from my shoulder at the Austin hospital, the plastic surgeon was indian and did a fantastic job, no scar at all, you wouldn't know I had a mole there. I also have an asian GP, Dr Chan is his name, small man who cracks jokes and is very thorough with his examinations.

But there are some bad ones. Once I had to see a indian female doctor, who prescribed me to drink chicken broth for a ear infection :
Never went back.

[fmc351]

I had a Chinese Malay Dr once, a bit like Dr Howlong up above, he was the most anti-Asian quack Ive ever met. He couldnt stand Vietnamese and didnt mind saying so. I tell ya, it was the strangest thing in the late 80's hearing an Asian bag out Asians.

Off topic, dont forget the Chinese have been here for over 150 ys. Ive met several with a far broader Aussie accent than most Aussies, now thats funny to listen too as well.

[XW_GS]

Originally Posted by BFYOOT

mate sorry to deviate from your direction with the thread, but have you seen a Podiatrist for the plantarfasciitis?

No but the pain is still there a week on, i think i best see one

[fiery]

I can understand people's frustrations with the doctors that are floating around but it isn't just Indian or Asian etc doctors that make rather large (and life changing) mistakes.

The doctor I had been seeing for a few months were most certainly Australian and had me prepared for a pretty big ordeal. Apparently I had a tumour in my stomach but guess what, I decided on a second opinion as I felt things weren't happening fast enough.
The next doctor I saw was female and most certainly not "Australian" but she told me within a few moments that the 'tumour' in fact had a heart beat.

Can you imagine my shock to discover I was 20 weeks pregnant

[fmc351]

Originally Posted by fiery

I can understand people's frustrations with the doctors that are floating around but it isn't just Indian or Asian etc doctors that make rather large (and life changing) mistakes.

The doctor I had been seeing for a few months were most certainly Australian and had me prepared for a pretty big ordeal. Apparently I had a tumour in my stomach but guess what, I decided on a second opinion as I felt things weren't happening fast enough.
The next doctor I saw was female and most certainly not "Australian" but she told me within a few moments that the 'tumour' in fact had a heart beat.

Can you imagine my shock to discover I was 20 weeks pregnant

[gtfpv]

try this one for size. wife 41 weeks pregnant , gets up in the morning , and complains baby's movements are very slow. so in the car and down to the hospital for a check up, nice australian femal obstetrician checks out wife and baby, everythings fine, go home she says.
me says, everything is not fine, call our private obstitrician please. she rolls her eyes back and rings him , complaining that we dont trust her. our obstitrician says, she's 41 weeks pregnant, admit her , induce her, and i'll be there in 2 hours for the birth, 4 hours later the baby is born , and the obstitrician says , i'm glad you came in this morning , another day and the baby would'vbe been dead, that placenta was on it's last day.

best experience i ever had with an indian doctor, was when i had sore testicles, walk into my , normal GP, who was off sick, the replacement was a young indian doctor ( female with green eyes .) examining my sack. i had my eyes closed and had to think about walking my dog in the park. after that came the ultrasound, a female nurse rubbing GEL, on the scrotum , then giving it an ultrasound. lifes tuff. then i had to think of eating tripe !!!

[atec77]

Originally Posted by Gaz

maybe there wouldn't be a problem if it wasn't so hard to get into med?

I know many smart people who have been rejected. Surely making more spaces available and lowering the grades a bit wouldn't be a problem.

I sure as hell know id rather a Australian trained doctor even if they had lower marks than a foreign imported doctor.

It's not a matter of requirements , it's a matter of places > places made>paid for by the state govco in conjunction with the medical unions , another 1000 doctors are required NOW but with the time required and state government redirecting unit placements or selling them over seas to students who come > train and leave we will be a decade or more catching up , there is a solution but it's gonna cost and may not stop the slide into 4th world medical situations

[HTCURRY]

Originally Posted by atec77

It's not a matter of requirements , it's a matter of places > places made>paid for by the state govco in conjunction with the medical unions , another 1000 doctors are required NOW but with the time required and state government redirecting unit placements or selling them over seas to students who come > train and leave we will be a decade or more catching up , there is a solution but it's gonna cost and may not stop the slide into 4th world medical situations

In all seriousness this is a real issue in a lot of developed nations. In the UK, the NHS is a wreck, despite the horror stories we have seen in the papers recently, things here are still a lot better here.

The skilled workers shortage isnt just in the field of Medicine either, its virtually in every sector.

I am not very confident that the trend will reverse, precisely because of the reasons you provided.

The one consolation, if we can call it that is, overseas doctors HAVE to pass an Australian exam before being given their license to practice medicine here, and the exams are in the main, helping to weed out those who are unqualified.

[Gaz]

Originally Posted by fmc351

what? You should have started that post with "Hi everybody".


Poorly trained, or hopelessly unskilled quacks are useless no matter where they come from.

I wasn't referring to them being poorly trained. I'm just talking about allowing more places. Not talking about lowering the levels to stupidly low performers. But allowing more spaces to get more qualified Australian doctors.

Its a much better system when you have enough doctors locally, without having to go overseas to get them. I don't think Australia lacks the number of intelligent people who could be doctors, it lacks the university placement numbers.

[XW_GS]

Originally Posted by fiery

I can understand people's frustrations with the doctors that are floating around but it isn't just Indian or Asian etc doctors that make rather large (and life changing) mistakes.

The doctor I had been seeing for a few months were most certainly Australian and had me prepared for a pretty big ordeal. Apparently I had a tumour in my stomach but guess what, I decided on a second opinion as I felt things weren't happening fast enough.
The next doctor I saw was female and most certainly not "Australian" but she told me within a few moments that the 'tumour' in fact had a heart beat.

Can you imagine my shock to discover I was 20 weeks pregnant

Ayyyyeeeee???? LOL