comment frm ABCs desperate hswives

psalm, RN · Oct 3, 2007

Hello, I am not Filipino, and I find that statement very offensive. The Filipino physicians I work with here in Michigan are WONDERFUL, they know their stuff and have saved some of my pts. from demise!

akoitoh, LPN, LVN · Oct 3, 2007

it's been circulating around filipino blogs about the scene that was shown in the us on sept 30, dr. mayfair told a visibly terrified mayer that the word "menopause" seems to open a pandora's box for the age-conscious middle-aged woman.

"they hear ageing, brittle bones, loss of sexual drive..." said the doctor who was cut midway from his explanation by an agitated mayer.
"before we go any further, can i check those diplomas? 'coz, i just want to make sure they're not from some med school in the philippines," she said while searching for the doctor's records.
filipino americans demand for apology from abc and desperate housewives
to: abc

to the producers of "desperate housewives" and abc:
we are writing to express concern and hurt about a racially-discriminatory comment made in an episode of desperate housewives on 9/30/07. in a scene in which susan was told by her gynecologist that she might be hitting menopause, she replied, "can i just check those diplomas because i just want to make sure that they are not from some med school in the philippines."

read demand in its entirety:

http://www.petitiononline.com/filabc/petition.html

michaRN, RN · Oct 3, 2007

any comment on this scene re:insulting filipino doctors..click on the url

michaRN, RN · Oct 3, 2007

though im not a doctor..im a nurse working in UK..im really hurt..watching the news through TFC...it will affect us filipinos not only the doctors but all medical fields who are currently working all over the world...and we should deserve an apology from the writer of that "desperate housewives"... :idea:

lenjoy03, RN · Oct 3, 2007

though im not a doctor..im a nurse working in UK..im really hurt..watching the news through TFC...it will affect us filipinos not only the doctors but all medical fields who are currently working all over the world...and we should deserve an apology from the writer of that "desperate housewives"...

I was really hurt too with the news! She owe the whole Filipino community a public apology and not just the ABC network!

akoitoh, LPN, LVN · Oct 3, 2007

They were so unprofessional and irresponsible...they could have omitted the "philippines" in that dialogue...

We feel so offended with the racist remarks made by this show , Filipinos are one of the best worker in the world, in any discipline or industry. Very professional.

I'm sorry, not that I want to start a fight...but Filipino doctors didn't spend 4 years in pre-med, 4 years in medical school, 1 year of internship, 4 years of residency and countless sleepless nights in the hospital away from their loved ones just to be insulted in such a way.

this is clear an act of a RACIST..

dave787 · Oct 3, 2007

how dare! they owe a public apology if she insulted the philepines then a big slam on them too. shes also insulting there competency. fiipono medicine graduate must pass series of exam the USMLE 1 and 2 and the state board before they can practice.

lawrence01 · Oct 4, 2007

how dare! they owe a public apology if she insulted the philepines then a big slam on them too. shes also insulting there competency. fiipono medicine graduate must pass series of exam the USMLE 1 and 2 and the state board before they can practice.

Also, just want to add that besides passing the licensure exams, foreign-educated doctors also have to go through Internship and the necessary Residency training for a specialization done in a US teaching-hospital so a foreign-born doctor practicing in the US are actually trained in the US. Non-US Residency (Specialization) training programs are not credited in the US so a foreign-doctor has to re-do everything (including Internships) if he or she is already a specialist in their home country.

I think the whole thing is just borne out of ignorance.

Nurse!Nurse!Hello? · Oct 4, 2007

Wow! Talk about making a big deal over nothing! It was a joke, not an international incident.

In one of the episodes last season, Gaby locked her husband Carlos out of the house, and he was trying to break in. She called the police and said, "Come armed--he's Mexican!" There was no big outcry from the Mexican government over the joke--no demand for apologies, or online petitions, or suggestions that ABC make a financial donation to Mexico.

Last season the show portrayed a maid from China, in a humorous way. Nobody from the Chinese government made a fuss about it. Why? Because it was a JOKE!

Should the US take offense every time someone from another country makes fun of our president, George Bush? Should we demand an official apology? Cut their visas? Cut off financial aid to the offending countries?

I really don't understand why Filipinos are being so sensitive about this issue. Does it have something to do with the nursing test scandal -- that foreign countries are now beginning to question the quality of healthcare providers from PI? I don't have an answer to that. But the situation with the one comment on Desperate Housewives, and how it has been totally blown out of proportion really makes me wonder...

AstonishiaInlimbo · Oct 4, 2007

Well...fellow filipino health care workers, it seems we've become some stereotypical joke! Our being professional is some kind of a joke!

I hope the viewers are amused.

But of course, it's because we bought our diplomas and credentials and never really went through any formal school!

If you cannot understand why to Filipinos this is such a big deal, it's because you do not know Filipinos. To a Filipino, education is everything. Other kids would rather flip burgers and party all night than read books, but Filipino kids would give it all to get a college degree. Parents would sell all belongings to get all their children the education they deserve. To a Filipino, there is dignity in being a professional...whether you're an electrician or a maid, a caregiver, or a doctor...whether you're in the Philippines or out of the country.

To be judged...to be generalized...because of some people who bought their diplomas...is not an excuse to make us all look like a sick joke...you can all make jokes about your presidents or other nationalities...but take us seriously...

And to all of us who worked hard and made our way through formal school, and got our diplomas the honest way, we know ourselves. They may make fun of us, but when they become our patients, we'll give them the most professional service...and the respect and dignity they deprive us...in return.

gemerald · Oct 4, 2007

you have a point there:)

Wow! Talk about making a big deal over nothing! It was a joke, not an international incident.
In one of the episodes last season, Gaby locked her husband Carlos out of the house, and he was trying to break in. She called the police and said, "Come armed--he's Mexican!" There was no big outcry from the Mexican government over the joke--no demand for apologies, or online petitions, or suggestions that ABC make a financial donation to Mexico.
Last season the show portrayed a maid from China, in a humorous way. Nobody from the Chinese government made a fuss about it. Why? Because it was a JOKE!
Should the US take offense every time someone from another country makes fun of our president, George Bush? Should we demand an official apology? Cut their visas? Cut off financial aid to the offending countries?
I really don't understand why Filipinos are being so sensitive about this issue. Does it have something to do with the nursing test scandal -- that foreign countries are now beginning to question the quality of healthcare providers from PI? I don't have an answer to that. But the situation with the one comment on Desperate Housewives, and how it has been totally blown out of proportion really makes me wonder...