SFBrit

I do hope your theory is wrong, although fear it might be right. I have many doctor friends in the UK. Not a single one went into the profession for the money (they'd be mad to do so in Britain). That's another difference between doctors in the two countries, and another reason why I prefer the UK variety as a whole. I'm trying hard to weep for poor starving Californian GPs, but I can't quite manage to do so yet...

snowbunny

They aren't poor and starving. If you want altruism, you might go look in the inner cities. Many of the doctors (and everyone else, for that matter) live there because it's the SF Bay Area, and no other reason.

I've watched several friends rip their hair out trying to find doctors for themselves, their kids.... GPs to specialists. It was hard finding anyone decent or anyone taking new patients or.... I've yet to hear someone who really likes their doctors there. Wish I had better news. Other than to visit here and I'd hook you up ;-) this is also a nice place to live, and while there are some real sourpusses here, in my nearly 20 years of living here I've assembled a team I feel very comfortable with. For example -- my mother and my SIL also see my OB/GYN, who goes to my church (we're very liberal Episcopalian). She did her medical school at UC Davis. Michael Dell's kids and Lance Armstrong's kids see the same pediatrician that mine do -- and my eldest is older, so that's not why I chose my pediatrician :-)

My own GP is amazingly like John Carter (Noah Wyle) on ER.... as altruistic (though not independently wealthy) AND almost as good-looking. Sorry, ladies, he's married.

Rushman

How to find a British-trained doctor in the U.S? Hmmmm suggest looking at pakistani-expats.com (Oooohh controversial)

snowbunny

'Tis true. Ued to be that immigrants who were doctors had to nearly start all over again with school and internship before they could practise here.... now anyone can come in, agree to serve an "underserved" area (and there are many) for three years, and then they are free to practise wherever they wish. It's one way the US is holding down doctor's salaries; GP salaries have actually fallen over the last few years. It's also one way the US hides the fact that so many have no insurance and no access to care -- bandaid a community for three years. I'm sure that if a British doctor wanted to do the same s/he could.

SFBrit

What's controversial about seeing a Pakistani-origin doctor? I don't care what colour my doctor's skin is. It's where/how s/he trained that interests me, and I am somewhat disturbed by your comment.

snowbunny

I think the controversy is over whether or not to allow non-citizens to immigrate and work in traditionally high-paying fields. After September 11, xenophobia and panic caused the government to nearly eliminate the International Medical Graduate program (J-1 visa holders). The states were allowed a very small allocation of waivers and California used its allotment (10) on the first day.

There's more if you google on it, or at:

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/17.html

I don't know whether an Indian or Pakistani doctor is very likely to have trained in Britain, or whether or not the system in the former colonies is similar to Britain's.

Rushman

In what part of my post does it say that (1) I care what colour skin my doctor has? (2) it is controversial to seek medical advice from a Pakistani doctor?
The whole essence of my post was a tongue in cheek ironic observation of a general British perception that a great deal of G.P's are of asian origin. I don't think that for someone to observe that there are a good number of asian origin doctors in the UK is "racist" (if that is what you would like to imply), I see that as an observation and NOT a racist remark. It only becomes a racist remark if that person objects to asian origin doctors. Did my post suggest that? No it did not.
There was absolutely nothing derogatory in my posting to British trained doctors of asian origin. I obviously thought it was humourous to suggest looking for one in pakistani-expats.com, YET also knew the possibility of a member of the sense of humour police being "somewhat disturbed" by it. Hence my adding "ooohh controversial" to the end.
I won't be apologising for my comment because in my opinion you obviously misinterpreted it. This is a forum and as such you will inevitably see opinions and senses of humour that will not always be to your taste or that you just don't quite understand.
Have a nice day.

SFBrit

Interesting, thank you. Ironically, in the UK right now, a rather nasty outbreak of anti-immigrant feeling has prompted a government proposal to restrict immigration ONLY to highly-skilled, well-paid immigrants.

Bob

speaking of, Oxfordshire is shipping over stacks of doctors from Oz/Nz, thailand, Philippines etc....and there getting housing and making loads of money because no one wants to work in Oxford as it's so expensive...

SFBrit

Yup, didn't understand it, still don't, but thanks.

Rushman

You're most welcome, anytime.