UK: Muslim students abandon medical degrees

[ships-cat]

You couldnt' make it up !

It seems that a small number of Muslim medical students are refusing to partake in lectures (or exam questions/practicals) on alcohol-related or sexually transmitted diseases, as it conflicts with their religion and could tempt them into sin or , in extreme cases, cause them to explode. In doing so, they risk (actually, gaurentee) failing in their exams. One student even refused to undertake a basic (non-intrusive) examination of a female, a requirement of his exam "practicals".

A number of UK Muslim organsiations have already condemmed the approach.

This comes shortly after Sainsburys (a UK supermarket chain) permitted a Muslim checkout operator to refuse to handle acohol-based products. A colleague would be summoned over to operate the till whenever a customer wished to purchase alcohol.

Full story from the Imperial Times of London , so smart dress only please.

What's next ? Muslim Vets Won't Treat Dogs or Pigs ?

Meow Purr.

[GreyWeather]

Maybe this means we'll have more BRITISH docters instead of cheaper foriegn docters you can't understand/can't understand you.

[Talon]

They should be failed then and made to repay any grants they were given, if they can't even sit the exams they have no right to be allowed to go practice.

Although with our pathetic system I wouldn't be surprised if they're given a pace mark regardless in some pathetic attempt to be 'politically correct'

[GreyWeather]

They should be failed then and made to repay any grants they were given, if they can't even sit the exams they have no right to be allowed to go practice.

Although with our pathetic system I wouldn't be surprised if they're given a pace mark regardless in some pathetic attempt to be 'politically correct'

Or allowed to only help males who are not drunk/gay.

They'll push a button to alert another docter to take over from them

They shouldn't be allowed any medical awards or even undertake any medical jobs. This shouldn't conflict with PC'ness as it will (WILL) put peoples lives at greater risk.

...I think I'll vote conservative next election.

[wowyfoss]

what ever happene to when in rome? so vegetarian surgeons dont have to cut people up too?

whatever the reason i cannot think the students were unaware prior to beginning the course that this would be a requirement so maybe they should seriously question thei career choice. IMO if you cant do the job get a new one.

I used to be a chef, even though i was a vegetarian. me not cooking it wasnt gonna stop people eating was it, me cooking it badly however.........lol (NAW, IM A GREAT CHEF!)

[Pax Unum]

they should be given the boot, and let people who want to really be doctors take their place... alcoholism, std's and females happen... IMO

[stevewinn]

Only in the UK, Land of the Political Gob-$hites,

[Raptor]

How does learning about the effects of alcohol conflict with their religion? It's not as if they're being told to get drunk and see what happens.

This comes shortly after Sainsburys (a UK supermarket chain) permitted a Muslim checkout operator to refuse to handle acohol-based products.

That's equally as stupid as this is. If you apply for a job and on the induction you screw up and aren't able to do what's required of you, you won't get the job. Simple. If you're working and you decide you'll just skip a few of your duties, you'll get fired. Simple. But if you refuse to do it for "religious reasons", it's okay?

It's ridiculous.

[glorybebe]

How does learning about the effects of alcohol conflict with their religion? It's not as if they're being told to get drunk and see what happens.

That's equally as stupid as this is. If you apply for a job and on the induction you screw up and aren't able to do what's required of you, you won't get the job. Simple. If you're working and you decide you'll just skip a few of your duties, you'll get fired. Simple. But if you refuse to do it for "religious reasons", it's okay?

It's ridiculous.

Wow! The medical students knew what was expected of them, they are just pushing. In Canada a few years ago, a Seik (sp) wanted to be a police officer (RCMP) BUT, he wanted to wear his turban ( that's ok to me, not that big of a deal) and his cerimonial dagger, have you seen the size of those 'daggers'? It was passed that he was allowed since it would be against his right to freedom of religion. Well, the other officers didn't like that...needless to say he quit soon after that. You move into our countries, you go by our laws, just as we have to go by their laws while in their countries. My great-grandparents had to, they didn't know a word of english when they moved her, they soon learned the language and the laws.

[GreyWeather]

How does learning about the effects of alcohol conflict with their religion? It's not as if they're being told to get drunk and see what happens.

That's equally as stupid as this is. If you apply for a job and on the induction you screw up and aren't able to do what's required of you, you won't get the job. Simple. If you're working and you decide you'll just skip a few of your duties, you'll get fired. Simple. But if you refuse to do it for "religious reasons", it's okay?

It's ridiculous.

It is, I was in a hospital when I sprained my wrist - it went mighty swollen, so I thought it was a break - the pakistani docter could hardly speak English, could hardly understand English. When I asked for another docter... There were no British docters around... 2 other arab docters who could barely get buy speaking English and 4 nurses who appariently couldn't see me for my arm. Not sure why, but even if they got it wrong, they could understand me and I them. Luckily a British-Indian docter just started his shift and sorted me out.

He had his turban on, but no ceremonial dagger. So that police incident seems like the person was taking the p*** =/

Although I'm not sure if he was Hindu or Sikh.

Edited October 7, 2007 by Chokmah

[Syd Boggle]

Yes, i to heard about an incident, where our local butcher almost chopped his finger off at work,

while being treated in casualty, was asked by an asian doctor what meat he was cutting, the butcher commented that he was cutting up pig trotters......the medic immediately left the treatment room.......and in came another medic 5 mins later!........The butcher complained, but it was hospital policy, not to give the reasons as to why the original medic left....

but i think its obvious

[chaoszerg]

in extreme cases, cause them to explode.

Yes that happens a lot.

[questionmark]

Very simple, they refuse to partake in the exam, they flunked the exam, therefore they can work as orderlies at a hospital instead of as doctors. That simple.

[Guardsman Bass]

I'm inclined to let them fail, but we do probably need some doctors with familiarity with muslim customs and taboos and the like. The whole bit about "not wanting to touch sexually related areas in exams", though, should result in them simply being failed. Being a doctor means certain requirements, and you can't be overly squeamish about those.

[chemical-licker]

they can never evolve if religion stands in their way, they should try licking chemicals, as chemical licker i think, INSTEAD OF BLOWING THEMSELVES UP, THEY SHOULD BLOW THEIR MINDS.

[hetrodoxly]

It's the usual case of being a muslim when it suites, I've never been in a muslim shop or restaurant that refuses to sell alcohol, if there's money to be made their imam says it's ok as long as he gets his cut.

[swtp]

they should be given the boot, and let people who want to really be doctors take their place... alcoholism, std's and females happen... IMO

Exactly!

[AztecInca]

These people are pathetic, they are taking university places away from those who can and will do the job properly. They should be failed and kicked out of the uni.

[+DieChecker]

This comes shortly after Sainsburys (a UK supermarket chain) permitted a Muslim checkout operator to refuse to handle acohol-based products. A colleague would be summoned over to operate the till whenever a customer wished to purchase alcohol.

What about other products with alcohol in them. There is a list of probably hundreds of products in the average market that have alcohol in them. Perhaps she will also not handle those old oranges.

The med students should get the grade they earn. No more, no less. You start making exceptions and pretty soon no one will accept your gradutes as real doctors.

[Bill Hill]

I think they'd fail anyway..one way or another.

Medical Examiner "Ok.. the patient's symptoms are a systemic breakdown through into the arterial blood flows through capillaries, carbon dioxide diffuses from the tissues with some carbon dioxide is dissolved in the blood. Some carbon dioxide reacts with hemoglobin and other proteins to form abnormal carbamino compounds. What is the best treatment.. what's the cure? Anyone? Yes Muhammad..I see you've got your hand up"

Muhammad- "Is it..., to behead them?.."

[Lord Umbarger]

I guess someone is going to say something like: "A religeon of death is offended by the concept of saving lives..." Well, not me. I will say that a backwards thinking faith will always object to new life saving technoloigies simply because they are not discribed in detail in their holy books. X-tianity was for a long time burning people who suggested chewing the bark of Willow trees to rid themselves of headaches. Now, most of the dumb ones are dead and the rest of us can have an aspirin when we need it. Today, many are against the use of stem cells, this too will die out and lives will eventually be saved.

Truth is that for far too many Muslims, any science that isn't in accordance with the Koran is a violation of Allahs law. Truly sad. I wonder if they ever concidered that if the Creator, (whatever you call him/her/it/they), didn't want us to use these things, why are they in the world? Why do the Creator allow us to develope the knowledge of how to use them? If flying is a "sin" becuse G-d didn't give humans wings, why did G-d give us the ability to think our way around that short coming?

Edited October 8, 2007 by Lord Umbarger

[Moon Monkey]

Maybe they would feel more comfortable living and working in a country where alcohol etc. is not so prevelent.

[Lord Umbarger]

Maybe they would simply be happier growing to a ripe old age in a place where their perverse religious faiths are the norm rather than killing us and dying young in the Free World. Really, how much worse off could the world be with a few hundred more farmers?

[Shush_rules]

This comes shortly after Sainsburys (a UK supermarket chain) permitted a Muslim checkout operator to refuse to handle acohol-based products. A colleague would be summoned over to operate the till whenever a customer wished to purchase alcohol.

Woah, thats fantastic! i'd be aiming for a job at a pub then

[Lord Umbarger]

This comes shortly after Sainsburys (a UK supermarket chain) permitted a Muslim checkout operator to refuse to handle acohol-based products

Something similar has already started happening in the U.S. A grocery check out clerk sued for and won the right to refuse to check-out customers purchasing pork. It was posted on the UM some time ago but, I don't know where to find it.