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You are going to specify you want a Caucasian/white doctor and then wonder if people are going to think you are racist? i'd imagine most people will think you are very racist.
But hey if having a white doctor is that important to you what does it matter what people think.
As others have said, who cares? My mother wore two hearing aids and had a great deal of difficulty understanding people who spoke English as a second language and/or were heavily accented.
You don't necessarily need a causation for that. There are plenty of doctors who are black,
Asian, Arabic who speak "American" English. If you can't understand the person, ask to see someone else and explain the reason.
I get your problem though, its hard dealing with health issues if there is trouble communicating (cultural differences shouldn't be an issue though - you're not at the doctors to make small talk or tell jokes, you're there to try and get better). I often have to talk to doctors in my non-native language and misunderstanding happens often. If I get a chance to get an English-speaking doctor (though of course I can't get a native speaker where I live) then I go for it.
There are two issues here: 1. Communication with your doctor; and 2. Your doctor's race and ethnicity.
I wouldn't want to be treated by someone I could not communicate with either because of difficulties with the language. Its reasonable to pick a doctor based upon that fact.
It is not reasonable to pick a doctor based on their race or ethnicity. Plenty of people of different races and cultures speak good, understandable English. Picking a doctor purely upon their race or ethnicity is bigotry.
First I'd like to start off by saying I am in no way racist or discriminatory. I have seen many doctors lately; middle eastern Dr's, korean Dr's and chinese Dr's and while they all have spoken decsent english there has definitely been a communication / cultural barrier that has made it a bit difficult to explain and understand certain details. I take my health and understanding all details very serious. I would like to make calls looking for new doctors but since most people answering the phones aren't necessarairly caucasian how do I ask for a caucasian doctor without sounding offensive or discriminatory in nature? Do I just ask to see the Dr with the most americanized name? Sorry, I really hope I don't offend anyone.
If you are looking for a specifically white doctor and that is your only concern, then you are by definition, a racist. All of these kind of medical doctors have degrees including, and beyond high school. They have passed written tests having to do with medicine. But if your concern is about communication, then that is a different matter. You could discriminate by name (Dr. Equitara Wesiniskian might have an accent, for example), or you could go by trial-and error. I suppose an interpreter is out of the question. They usually aren't covered by insurance anyway.
Funny I just experienced this today. I went to see a new dr and for one I couldnt pronounce his name. I thought it was a him until I got there and a female walked in. She spoke English but had a heavy accent and I kept having to ask her to repeat herself. I cant have a dr who I cant understand. This has nothing to do with being racist but your health is a HUGE issue and there should be clear communication
If you have to ask how to do something without seeming racist, you're a racist.
I have a huge team of doctors, oncologists, and other medical specialists. Many of them are not caucasian, but were born in the US and speak English better than the average native-born American. The one doctor I have trouble understanding? The Israeli anesthesiologist that I had for a surgery a few years ago. His race? White.
Funny I just experienced this today. I went to see a new dr and for one I couldnt pronounce his name. I thought it was a him until I got there and a female walked in. She spoke English but had a heavy accent and I kept having to ask her to repeat herself. I cant have a dr who I cant understand. This has nothing to do with being racist but your health is a HUGE issue and there should be clear communication
I had really bad bronchitis a few years ago and the dr I had was using a Electrolarynx (I think thats what theyre called, I googled it.) It's a box he'd put under his chin/on his neck to talk.
I couldnt understand him that much either but the sad thing is, about 2 weeks later, I was reading the obituaries and he was there!!
First I'd like to start off by saying I am in no way racist or discriminatory. I have seen many doctors lately; middle eastern Dr's, korean Dr's and chinese Dr's and while they all have spoken decsent english there has definitely been a communication / cultural barrier that has made it a bit difficult to explain and understand certain details. I take my health and understanding all details very serious. I would like to make calls looking for new doctors but since most people answering the phones aren't necessarairly caucasian how do I ask for a caucasian doctor without sounding offensive or discriminatory in nature? Do I just ask to see the Dr with the most americanized name? Sorry, I really hope I don't offend anyone.
I think you would to well to drop the "Caucasian" term, nor would I resort to "white" in place of it.....color doesn't say jackcrap about what accent the doctor may possible have. My doctors all fit the bill as far as the "Caucasian" label goes, but some have thick German accents, some have Russian accents, etc.
Why don't you just say that you have a tin ear, and that you need a doctor born in the U.S. Of course s/he could still be of Asian or Middle Eastern ancestry, but that would be irrelevant since you are looking for a language and culture fit and born-and-raised-in-the-US should solve your problems.
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