Bill bars Fla. medical license for doctors who studied in Cuba

[Mika]

Bill bars Fla. medical license for doctors who studied in Cuba
http://www.wflxfox29.com/Global/story.asp?S=8194809&nav=menu98_3

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Americans who get their medical degree in Cuba would be prohibited from practicing medicine in Florida under a bill passed by the House.

The measure is aimed at students who accept scholarships from the Cuban government to attend the Latin American School of Medical Sciences in Havana. About 150 American students are currently enrolled in the school. They would be prevented from getting medical licenses in Florida if they were to move here.

The bill passed 107-3 today. It now goes to the Senate.

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[Selatius]

1. Perhaps if the State of Florida subsidized the education of its med students, no one would go Cuba.

Has the Florida legislature thought of that?

[Mika]

7. Anyone who suggested such a thing in Fla would be accused of being a Fidelista.

Here in Florida the rules are easy.

Privatization = good
Socialism = bad
USA = good
Cuba = bad

[Vincardog]

2. This proves it the legislature of FL is made up of a bunch of MORAN'S.

[mainer]

3. Decision should be by licensing board, not legislators!

So these legislators now consider themselves experts in what constitutes an adequate medical education?

[Clear Blue Sky]

4. Does that mean they are free to practice in any of the other 49 states?

Seems like an empty gesture for political points.

[Mika]

8. Empty gesture? Not for the US students who've gone to med school in Cuba.

http://www.globalexchange.org/countries/americas/cuba/uscuba/539.html

[ck4829]

5. Got to make sure students are in debt, right?

[EFerrari]

9. And it's getting much harder to get student loans.

Our government is insane.

[Mika]

11. Isn't it interesting that so many call Cuba a brutal dictatorship, but yet ...

.. No one can say with any credibility that universal education and universal health care needs to be forced on any population. One Cuban, Castro, didn't give it to them either. Together, nearly all Cubans worked hard to create the infrastructure and systems that they felt were essential for any progressive system.

The Cuban people wanted universal health care for all Cubans, and they have it. They pushed for government that represented their ideals and goals, and organized and formed infrastructure that enabled Cubans to create a fair and complete h-c system.

The people of Cuba wanted universal education for all Cubans, and they have it. They pushed for and created government that represented their ideals, organized and formed infrastructure that enabled Cubans to create a complete and world class ed system, and they have it.

Cubans want to assist the world's poor with doctors and educators, instead of gun ship diplomacy.. and that is what they have done WITH their government, not at odds with their government.

It seems to me that Cubans actually have a more representative government than we do in the US. Americans of nearly all ilk desire these very same things that Cubans in Cuba do, but yet, we do not have it.

It doesn't happen from the top -> down. It happens from the bottom -> up.

Cubans did it. So can we.



Hasta La Victoria Siempre!

[EFerrari]

13. I don't see any sign of representative government in this country.

We have a great deal of pageantry that incidently makes a great deal of money for our owners.

(When Gore Vidal used to use that term, "our owners", I thought he was exaggerating. I don't think so any more.)

[sutz12]

16. ...and in debt to the right people, too. nt

[Johnyawl]

6. Good!

More Doctors for the rest of us.

[Mika]

10. Huh?

:crazy:

[Judi Lynn]

22. Whaaaa? WTF????

How hard is it for some people to think first, THEN post?

[Johnyawl]

24. It's simple, really...

...if the Cuban educated Dr.s aren't allowed to practice in Florida, they'll have to settle in some other state. More Doctors for those of us in the other states. We have communities here in rural Washington that have no Doctors.

[BlooInBloo]

35. Heh. I doubt Omak is gonna see an uptick.

[roody]

12. Good for them!

We need doctors in my state! Sorry Floridians; I wouldn't want to wish living in Florida on anybody.

[mitchtv]

14. Florida, Full speed in reverse

they'll make more money in Calif.

[HockeyMom]

15. Poor minority kid I used to work with

at a mental health facility was working to put himself through college. He had a full time job and went to school full time. How he managed to do that and still pull a B average was phenomenal.

He wanted to go to medical school, but did not see how he was going to find the money to do it. He told me he did not think he could work full time while in medical school.

I suggested Cuba to him. He was of Cuban and African heritage. I hope he somehow managed to live his dream. He certainly gave it his all and then some.

As someone else said, Florida is not the only state in the union and I bet most others pay a hell of a lot more.

[Peace Patriot]

17. What shits! Can you imagine anything more mean-spirited?

Goes to show ya what Diebold/ES&S voting machines can do.

[Mika]

27. Seems to be popular to some DUers.

Pathetic.

[Greyhound]

18. Here's an idea, let's give Florida to Cuba, kind of a "We're sorry we

ruined your country and and have tried to crush your population for the last hundred years" gift (but you have to keep the nut-job assholes, it's a package).

[kevinmc]

19. Florida .. Someone said they are a third world country ,, Think it was a Republican. n/t

[Mika]

43. Some of us do our best work in 3rd world locations.

Please don't abandon us. Please, help us.

[fishnfla]

20. THANK FUCKING GOD

That asshole Cuban who treated our daughter spent more time ragging on the Clintons than he did treating our daughter, she got sicker and almost died. Fuck him, fuck them

[JanMichael]

39. so, ONE doctor flipped you out on all of them?

Look, this issue sounds more emotional for you. I seriously doubt ALL Cuban trained docs suck because the ONE who treated your daughter obviously did.

[fishnfla]

40. I'm sure they believe in universal health care and the are all democrats

thats why they move to florida

d'uh

[JanMichael]

41. Well, I wouldn't know about that

but, I also wouldn't try to make that assumption after meeting ONE.

[HuffleClaw]

21. how very BUSH of them

funny but sad

[The Straight Story]

23. Good

We have government mandated standards in this country and we should stick to em....

[Mika]

26. That isn't what the issue is. They would still have to pass Fla exams ...

What the bill would do is prevent anyone who attended a Cuban med school from getting a Fl license even if they passed Florida boards.

Just like all states, no one can legally practice medicine in Fl without a FL license.

It is a purely punitive and discriminatory action.

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[dysfunctional press]

25. they're doing them a favour- otherwise some of those docs might open a practice there...

this way saves them the headaches and shame of living there...now if only texas could do the same.

[libodem]

28. sheesh

What if they banned nurses trained in the Philippines? I think the US in general has a lot of foreign trained medical personnel. In fact, I think we purposefully target and recruit medical professionals away from poorer countries that really need the services, on a regular basis. What a stinkin' petty world we live in. I hope the Dr's just go elsewhere.

[burythehatchet]

29. another win for the AMA. Protectionism seems to be OK is this case.

[Mika]

30. How so?

[burythehatchet]

31. By artificially keeping the supply of good physicians low in order to increase their

own market value.

[Mika]

32. As noted in other posts, they can practice in other states if they pass state requirements.

So, overall, its not going to impact any supply. Just in Fl.

[riderinthestorm]

33. It's a nationwide practice that the AMA is perpetuating - doctor shortages.

It just means Florida is going to have an even bigger doctor shortage, driving up Florida physician wages even further.... There's only a certain number of openings in current med schools, and the AMA won't approve any more openings which ensures a limited supply of US trained doctors.

Unfortunately it also looks to be blatant pandering to the Cuban community in Miami , without having a lot of other background details on this.

[burythehatchet]

34. Which is ironic is it not? That Cuban doctors aren't allowed to serve the Cuban

population in Florida.

[BlooInBloo]

36. They're Americans.

[Mika]

42. Not all

A significant percentage of Cuban migrants have not (and do not intend to) become US citizens.


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[depakid]

37. 107-3

Wow.

[riderinthestorm]

38. Yup, pretty ugly. nt

[seafan]

44. These right wing zealots sitting in Tallahassee have 2 more weeks to assault Florida.

It will be worse than anything we've ever seen.


The alarms are blasting, but the GOP smash and grab goes on.


Thanks, Mika, for adding that story.

[BrightKnight]

45. The cold war is over. Isn't it time to move foreword?

I am no Castro fan but the isolation policy no longer makes sense.