Hospitals struggle with growing language barrier - (Speak English or Die)

AP ^ | September 2, 2003 | LAURAN NEERGAARD

[SpinyNorman]

It takes a motivated adult only about 6 months to learn another language.

You said the magic word: motivated. What motivation is there when everyone translates everything into your original language? Answer: none. I wonder why Hispanic leaders/groups never seem to think that this makes their people look really stupid, especially considering that Spanish is considerable closer to English than Chinese or Russian?

[bryanbig]

" The unspoken fact is that the patient speaking Hmong probably also speaks English better than most Hispanics that have been here a lifetime, coddled by Spanish instructions on everything."

Well, not really true. I used to live near one of the areas where we stuck the Hmong after pulling them out of Vietnam. A majority/significant minority (40-55%) don't seem to speak English.

Of course, these people didn't sign up to come here. They had to move to escape getting killed for helping us in the war, so on some level it's understandable that they'd not assimilate as quickly as other immigrant groups. But in this area many things were translated into their language as well.

At least the kids are English speaking, if not a bit rude.

[mtbopfuyn]

How about teaching foreign doctors to speak English!

[mtbopfuyn]

they nod their head I take that as they understood me

What gripes the heck outta me is when they don't understand and can't speak a word of English but let their paychecks be late and it's amazing how much English they know.

[Alouette]

Why don't they go over to Canada? The health care is free and everyone speaks English AND FRENCH.

[VeniVidiVici]

He was astonished because he didn't know that blonde ladies could rip him a new one in Castillian-accented Spanish

Good for you! My wife is fluent in Spanish and she loves just laying back and letting people think she doesn't understand them, until she launches into them. She has surprised and embarrassed many by doing that and I always get a chuckle.

[citizen]

That's right Karl, dig us an ever-deepening hole.....

[I never noticed but you spell your name with a K just like Marx did]

[Steely Glint]

My family moved here, suffered discrimintion as non-English-speaking foreigners, and then learned English and assimilated.

Why in the name of God can't these people get off their butts and do the same thing?

[Steely Glint]

"this is a this is a country of opportunity for hard-working people. ..."

Well, yes, but the anti-American Left has been busily trying for decades to turn it into a country of opportunity for NON-working people.

And they are succeeding.

[Jim Noble]

Provided free of course. Just like the care mandated in the ER by EMTALA. Doctors are free, nurses are free, translators are free, lights, supplies, equipment of course all come free.

The mandate for hospitals to provide free services could have worked as long as hospitals could charge other customers to make up the difference. It would have been immoral (theft), but it could have worked.

Under Federal, state, and local price controls, it cannot work. It is breaking hospitals all across the country, especially in rural areas and areas affected by illegal immigration.

Of course, our masters do not rely on such institutions for their own needs, so it doesn't matter.

The root of the problem, of course, is the unconscionable EMTALA, which is, unbelieveably, supported by many FReepers and others. EMTALA is looting, plain and simple, and it will eventually bring down the whole system if it is not repealed.

Maybe that's the point.

[Capriole]

I can't disagree with you there.