Doctors without Borders

World International

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Hi,

After I graduate and get some experience in the field, I am interested in joining Doctors without Boarders. Has anyone volunteered with them? If so, how was your experience? Also, does anyone know what they look for when accepting volunteers? Thanks in advance.

Meredith

Sorry...correction: Doctors without Borders

Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

I haven't worked with Medecins Sans Frontiers or anyone like that, but I have worked with doctors who have.

Be prepared to attend the worse disasters & war zones possible. One dr I knew went in after the Tutsi/Hutsi (sp?) disaster & the things he described to me would make you sick: dead babies, babies with their heads cut off, hands lying on the ground, torsos with no limbs. Also be prepared to stay in substandard or no accommodation (sleeping under the stars with soldiers standing guard @ night with guns so no wild animals get you), no water or sanitation, etc. Be prepared to really rough it.

Another thing one of the surgeons I worked with told me was that u may have to treat 2 warring parties, one of which may have killed hundreds or more people, and you still have to patch them up 2 send them back to kill more people. You cannot pick & choose who u want 2 treat - you treat everyone 'without prejudice'.

I don't think I could do that if I knew a soldier/general had hacked hundreds of people/babies to death, I just don't agree with treating them and letting them go.

Hi, I know this is an old post but I was curious if you were able to find out more or if you ended up volunteering for Doctors Without Boarders?

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