Non-English speakers struggle in encounters with health care system

AP via Boston Globe ^ | June 22, 2002 | Deborah Kong

[sarcasm]

In his halting English, Elvia Marin's husband struggled to tell the nurses and doctor that the pain in his wife's stomach and back was so intense, it was worse for her than giving birth.

But the words that would have helped pinpoint her ailment urinary tract stones eluded him and doctors in the Oakland, Calif., emergency room couldn't identify the problem by her discomfort alone. A few hours later, the pain subsided and she left without treatment.

[4America]

''I felt really desperate and also frustrated at my inability to communicate in English and explain my own problem,'' said Marin, a Mexican immigrant. ''I feel like we're not being listened to, not being paid attention to. We're not considered important.''




My advise to this individual...."LEARN ENGLISH" it's one of the many benefits you can get for free, just by coming here illegaly. (Sarcasm)

[Orblivion]

Yeah exactly. It's all our fault that our pathetic health care system can't cater to every single language on this planet. I mean. How can we stand for this! Not charging them for health care simply isn't enough! We must do more. Just like Ted Kennedy says. We are not fullfilling the "Promise" of American Health Care. You know. Promoting the general welfare and all. We should be ashamed

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

re: "About 21.3 million speak English ''less than very well,'' according to 2000 census data, compared with 13.9 million people in 1990."

Gee. Funny how that happens when you flood the nation with lower-class immigrants, many illegally. They let in millions of immigrants, primarily from poor, rural, illiterate, non English-speaking regions of Mexico and then the liberals and the media screams, "more Americans live in poverty than ever! More Americans are uneducated than ever. More Americans have no insurance. More Americans can't get health care. Give us more tax money!"

Bastards that they are, they know precisely what they are doing and why they are doing it. Intentional social engineering to create an increasing demand for a socialist nanny state. Bastards I say!

[4America]

These people don't understand the word "Assimulate". No matter what these Illegals get, they'll just continue to whine with tales of woe & how we don't accomidate them enough.

[meenie]

This is one of many reasons that our past officials insisted on immigrants learning English and laws governing the United States including the Constitution before they would be considered for citizenship. Now we let them in like a herd of wandering cattle with no respect given them and no respect given in return.

[dennisw]

They get free medicine and this is not enough. Taxpayers also have to subsidize them with free interpreters????? This is the downside of legal and illegal immigration where millions of $4.99 an hour workers are brought in to do work BUT who also suck off social services and in many cases rip-off social services.

[sarcasm]

More than 6 million Californians were uninsured last year, according to the California Health Interview Survey, a study conducted by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

Those most likely to lack health insurance are Latinos, people living below the poverty level, those without high school diplomas and undocumented immigrants.< SNIP >

[sarcasm]

Still think you're gonna see the full tax cut?

[Miss Marple]

Well, most Hisipanics around here are attempting to learn English, because they realize it makes life a little easier. However, medical English is not the first thing one usually learns. I speak German, but let me assure you I would need help if I were hospitalized in Germany, as I don't know the German terms for appendectomy, blood pressure, food poisoning, etc.

That being said, in Indiana the hospitals have on-call interpreters from the Hispanic community and the universities. There is no shortage of interpreters, and it does not cost $300-400 oer patient. That is a ridiculous sum.

Here's a novel idea: how about VOLUNTEERS from the populations affected? Surely there are some Hmong who speak English. I KNOW there are plenty of people who are bi-lingual in Spanish. Why does solving the problem involve money and a Clinton EO?

[4America]

I agree Dennis. And the Advocates that push for their rights, will have a new complaint tomorrow. I have a real tough time with anybody who is in this country "Illegally" be entitled to any rights in this country at all.

[sarcasm]

Why doesn't Bush rescind the Clinton Executive Order? Why doesn't he start deporting illegal aliens?
How about his failure to secure the borders?

[SWake]

"LEARN ENGLISH"

AMEN! Preach it!

I grew up in a rural farming community in West Texas, so I was around illegals quite a bit as a kid. I remember having trouble communicating with them, but I never remember any of them demanding services that were unreasonable. For the most part, they were hard working, kind, considerate, and very law-abiding people.

There was an unfortunate incident in our community hospital where a couple thought they were being refused service for a sick baby and the child died before they could get him to the next town's hospital. Of course, the Texas Rural Legal Aid folks descended on the hospital and threatened to sue any and everyone in town. When the whole story came out, though, the couple had just misunderstood the ER people's instructions to wait until an interpreter could be found.

Every bit of it could have been avoided had the people just learned enough English to understand "Wait here, OK?".

[Miss Marple]

1.) The EO simply says that this is what President Clinton thought the law meant. There are new guidelines coming out this fall.

2.)Illegal aliens are being deported. Apparently you are wanting ALL illegals rounded up and deported immediately. I think you should think about the logistics and money required before demanding such action.

3.) Explain your definition of "securing the borders." Military stationed every 10 miles? Fences? Minefields? I assume you also want the 3000 miles of Canadian border "secured" as well as all the coastline.

[4America]

Not preaching. I'm in California & our health care system is on overload. Citizens of this country have experienced the same situation as the people you mentioned, because the emergency rooms were so overcrowded.

[sarcasm]

Bush has shown absolutely no leadership in border security or in dealing with illegal aliens. All we have heard from him on the subject is amnesty for illegal aliens.

[4America]

Absolutely! We have every right to feel that way. Other countries are entitled to secure their boarders, but we can't? And all Illegals to be deported immediately? Nothing in such a case like this can happen immediately, but we can definitely make an effort to start.

[twigs]

"LEARN ENGLISH"

I'm helping a Chinese woman with her English so that she can take her TOEFEL tests, and I'm trying to introduce her to American society so that she can learn our culture. Several times we've been out to dinner, after which we get out the books and study together. Every time, we've had at leat one person approach us and compliment my friend that she's taking the time to learn English. I've found that interesting. People want foreigners to learn English and take the time to thank them when they do.

[4America]

I agree. On the other hand, there's also large percentage of those who don't want to make the effort like your friend & I thank her as well for making that effort.

[metesky]

Fukinese, a Chinese dialect

This is a dialect that all media people speak quite fluently and during the disgraceful Klinton administration, at the end of a long day covering the Impeached Rapist, many were heard to say, "My Fukinese hurt."