MY USA TODAY COLUMN - US SAVIOR: FOREIGN DOCTORS

It's now online. I hope it brings the point home. Yes, we need to be focused on security. But foreign physicians in the US are vital to the American health care system and should be warmly welcomed.

Comments

[Greg Siskind]

I thought my point that we can "walk and chew gum at the same time" was clear in the article. We need to be vigilant on security, but not "cut off our nose to spite our face" and bar physician immigration (as some of the talk radio crowd is suggesting. Sorry for the cliches.

[wondering what your goals are]

Chatroom transcripts released last night reveal the "good doctor" was warned. Greg - your actions are a danger to our nation. I just pray that one of the people you worked for don't turn out to be terrorists.

scrutiny is fine, i think Greg advocated it.
should we though throw the baby out with the bathwater?
if a christian fundamentalist shoots and abortion doctor, should we brand all cristians dangerous?
if an american in israel massacres palestinians while they pray, are all americans in israel terrorists?
why brand entire communities for the actions of a few?

[Doctor in Australia was warned by brothers]

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22169169-662,00.html

Chatroom transcripts released last night reveal the "good doctor" was warned. Greg - your actions are a danger to our nation. I just pray that one of the people you worked for don't turn out to be terrorists.

You should be on the front lines demanding greater scrutiny of those entering our country and better use of the fees already collected for background and security checks. You have not been sounding the alarm - unfotunately.

[Dan Kowalski]

Now linked at www.bibdaily.com. Bravo!

[K]

Greg, I am impressed with your website and wonder how can a busy lawyer like you get time to update the blog several times a day? Just seems like your superhuman. Oh! by the way, do you sleep??? Well, all in all thanks to your blog.

[USC]

Sorry, 1996 should be 2006

[USC]

"background checks of 'all' the immigrants."

The fact remains that someone who has no prior criminal history is never going to be picked up by a background check no matter how thorough the check (incidentally, the only part of the article that I disagree with is that I feel that British checks are adequate). If we give in to fear the terrorists will win, we should take reasonable precautions and get on with our lives. If terrorists strike now and then, we should deal with that the way the city of Mumbai dealt with the 1996 terrorist bomb blasts.

[YourFan]

Greg, very insightful..

It's very important for people to understand that good and bad people are there in every community and every profession. Because of a few bad folks whole communities and professions should not be blamed and targeted.

Doctors are very important part of any society.
A patient trust the doctor with his/her life.. Countries like Australia and Britain are not doing a favor to their own society by injecting doubts in the mind of people who may think twice before going to a doctor from outside.

Instead of targeting muslim doctors, they should rather focus on background checks of 'all' the immigrants.

[USC]

Greg:

Let me be the first to congratulate you on the article. I agree wholeheartedly with your thoughts.