ER patient's language complaint overblown: citizens

A complaint by a Moncton woman that her emergency room doctor in a Tracadie-Sheila hospital could not speak French has some New Brunswickers accusing her of overreacting.

Murielle Sonier, whose first language is French, but speaks English, went to the hospital in the Acadian peninsula community last Thursday after experiencing some pain.

She said she was told the only doctor available to see her could not speak French, but that translation would be provided. Sonier contends the service was unacceptable and made her uneasy.

'I think people just need to pull back on the language issue. Get over it. You got to see a doctor.' —Christie Schmelzle

But Christie Schmelzle, one of several people who called and wrote CBC after hearing Sonier's story, said she feels fortunate to receive the care she does.

"I think people just need to pull back on the language issue. Get over it. You got to see a doctor," she said.

"I just think people need to realize that beyond French and English - if you live anywhere else in Canada - in Vancouver, in Edmonton, in Toronto - if you're going to see a doctor, they mightn't necessarily speak English.

"Your doctor might be Chinese and not even be able to understand you as well as she was able to speak English."

Get some perspective

John MacDonald said it's time for people to get some perspective, nothing that people in earthquake-ravaged Haiti would be grateful for treatment from any doctor right now.

Robert Jackson, of Miramichi, said there are plenty of English-speaking people on the Acadian Peninsula who struggle to get care in their language too.

"So I think she's just blowing this thing out of proportion and just exacerbating a language difficulty," he said.

Sonier said that while she can get by with her English in an emergency room, she worries that other francophones in a similar situation couldn't.

All New Brunswickers should be able to expect health care service in their choice of English or French, she said, adding that she can't imagine an English community would tolerate having a French-only speaking doctor in their emergency room even for one shift.

The health authority has said the regular physician had to leave unexpectedly and the only replacement available was a doctor from Saint John who only speaks English.