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We already pay people to teach others english, they are called teachers and they can be found in all levels of our educational system. The one word that comes to mind that would define any concern over something like this is "petty". In our current system there are plenty of bloodsuckers, hyenas, jackals and other assorted bottom feeders bloated with the taxpayers money, where is the public outcry over that?

I would think that any hospital which treats a high volume of non-English-speaking patients will also have employees who speak the language. I don't see this as a problem to be overly concerned about.

I would think that any hospital emergency room in America would be staffed by workers who are more than just proficient in our language. this however is not the case. Merlins, you would see the problem if you ever had an occasion to take a child to the emergency room and find that the only health care professionals available were those who looked at you with vacant smiles as you tried to communicate the child's problem.

Many companies in America today seek empolyees who are proficient in Spanish. I think health care facilities should hire only people who are PROVEN to be efficient in our native language; and would be willing to bet that many people have died because this is not the case.

In a hospital or emergency health care setting already there are translators available to help the physicians and health care personnel understand the person needing treatment. To do less is to risk that person's health for failure to understand what is wrong. Many emergency rooms already have signs posted in several languages as well as signs advising to ask for a translator if one is needed. If ever one needs to be understood it is when they are ill, in crisis.

There are translator lines in many cities with people available who speak many languages. These lines are sometimes called, too, to translate for the health care professionals. We are a nation of people from many nationalities who pass through, as well as reside here. To do less than have access to translators is unthinkable in an enlightened and cosmopolitan society. The cost of using a translator is insignificant, especially when measured against the possible loss of a human life.

Petty is my opinion, too.

Having signs posted does not equate with having an English speaking doctor on duty in an American emergency room.

OK, I agree with giving everyone a chance as well as I do with saving tax-payer dollars. But when it comes to the health care of me and mine, I want an English speaking, preferably American doctor and all other healthcare personnel.

I'm just saying here;ut I act when in the emergency room. I DEMAND ENGLISH PROFICIENT health care personnel and I get what I ask for. After all, this is America.

My rheumatologist is Indian. His English is perfect, albeit accented rather heavily. He is an excellent doctor. I do, however, think that medical staff needs to be English proficient so that they can communicate with one another, as well as with English speaking patients (not all Americans are fluent English speakers. It had been a requirement for citizenship up until the 1970s but I am not sure that it is any longer. I think a lot of the folks who acheive citizenship when it was required learned just what they needed to pass the exam.)

At one time, NYC schools taught children speaking over 137 languages and had interpreters on call for all of them for various city functions (hospitals, police, etc.) There is a famous series of novels with Mr. Kaplan about English as a Second Language The books started in 1936 as a series of shorts for the New Yorker.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Hyman_Kaplan

There are very few people on these boards who antecedents spoke English when they arrived here. Many of the ones whose ancestors arrived 13000 years ago didn't speak English until the last century. This whole 'English language and America' debate has been going on for over two hundred years.

I believe if you go to any hospital in the United States, you will find that they have on staff an individual who can speak any language needed. Including pig Latin and sign language. I believe that is one thing Americans are very proficient at.

elizkaye, when have you run into a non English speaking doctor in an emergency room? Or any physician's office anywhere in the US.?

In order to practice medicine or be a nurse for that matter, one has to pass state medical board exams in each of the 50 states. They are in English and no walk in the park any doctor will tell you. Even though a doctor may hae been educated in and practiced in his country of origin for years, he has to take state board exams as if he had just graduated med school hear -- something even doctors who have practiced here for years might have to bone up on to pass. So in order to practice medicine a doctor has to not only be fluent in English, but pass medical knowledge exams -- in English.

Your fears are without any basis whatsoever.

Any fear is a good fear.