Divorce dying wife if want stay, rural doctor told.

Philippines-born Dr Cesar Sofocado has been helping out with the doctor shortage in rural Western Australia since 2005. Now, the dad of two young daughters has been told to divorce his dying wife if he wants to stay. Mary has advance breast cancer and says she will only seek palliative care to not burden the state's coffers. Upon learning her condition, immigration told him to apply for a visa type that didn't allow appeals related to health matters. She wishes to spend her last days with her family here. He wishes to show his daughters, Sofia and Kyla, that "we don't leave each other for any reason". (the west australian)

"I married my wife for richer and poorer and in sickness and health - that is the vow I took." (west australian news image)

At least 1800 more doctors are needed for folks in country Australia. When International Medical Graduates (IMGs), who are bound by a ten year Medicare restriction to areas of need, staff more than 41% of rural posts, whilst local doctors are flying in and flying out with no "real solid commitment to the community" (abc), commonsense dictates a review of the good doctor's plight on compassionate grounds.

Amidst of all this, the AMA told a federal parliamentary inquiry earlier this year that "given the nature of rural practice, with its emphasis on resourceful individualism, generalist medical skills, isolation, lack of supervision and small communities, there could not have been a worse place to send IMGs."

AMA: "(IMGs) need better support, and the moratorium guarantees that's really tough to deliver".

Calling for an end to the ten-year restriction, the AMA argued that attracting rather than forcing IMGs to rural areas will better solve the rural doctor shortage. (the australian)

There is no word from the Immigration Department yet. I hope they will make the right decision for the good of the family and us all.

Update (28/4/2011):
Rejoice my fellow earthlings! The Sofocados have been granted permanent visas by intervention of Immigration Minister Chris Bowen. YAY! (the west australian)

And they lived happily ever after. (west australian news image)

Source: Rural Doctors Association of Australia fact sheet (pdf)