Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

“Medical Profession” ESL Discussion Questions

I. Choosing the Medical Profession
1. Why do people decide to become doctors?
2. What qualities make a good doctor?
3. How long does it take to become a doctor in your country?
4. Do you think being a doctor is a stressful job? Why or why not?
5. Would you like to be a doctor? Why or why not?

II. Medical Education
6. What subjects do you need to study to become a doctor?
7. How important is practical experience in medical education?
8. Can you name any famous medical schools?
9. What challenges do medical students face?
10. How do medical students practice their skills?

III. Specializations in Medicine
11. What are some common specializations in medicine?
12. How do doctors choose their specialization?
13. What is the difference between a surgeon and a general practitioner?
14. Which medical specialization interests you the most? Why?
15. How long does it take to specialize in a particular field of medicine?

IV. The Role of Nurses
16. What roles do nurses play in healthcare?
17. How does the education of a nurse differ from that of a doctor?
18. What qualities make a good nurse?
19. Can nurses specialize in different fields like doctors do?
20. Do you think nurses receive enough recognition for their work?

V. Healthcare Systems
21. How does the healthcare system work in your country?
22. What are the benefits of having a public healthcare system?
23. What are the challenges of private healthcare?
24. How do healthcare systems affect doctors and nurses?
25. Can you think of a country with an excellent healthcare system? Why is it considered excellent?

VI. Medical Technology
26. How has technology changed the medical profession?
27. Can you name any new medical technologies or treatments?
28. What role does artificial intelligence play in medicine?
29. How do medical professionals keep up with new technologies?
30. What are the ethical considerations of using technology in medicine?

VII. Global Health Issues
31. What are some major global health issues today?
32. How can doctors and nurses help with global health crises?
33. What role do vaccinations play in global health?
34. How do pandemics affect the medical profession?
35. What can be done to improve global health?

VIII. Work-Life Balance in Medicine
36. How do medical professionals maintain a work-life balance?
37. What are the consequences of burnout in the medical profession?
38. How can hospitals support the well-being of their staff?
39. Do you think doctors should work long hours?
40. What hobbies might be beneficial for someone in the medical profession?

IX. Ethical Dilemmas in Medicine
41. What are some ethical dilemmas that doctors face?
42. How important is patient confidentiality?
43. What is the debate around euthanasia or assisted suicide?
44. How do medical professionals make difficult decisions?
45. What role do ethics committees play in hospitals?

X. The Future of Medicine
46. What are some predictions for the future of medicine?
47. How might genetic engineering impact healthcare?
48. What are the potential benefits and risks of personalized medicine?
49. How can we prepare for future pandemics?
50. What changes would you like to see in the medical profession?

XI. Patient-Doctor Relationship
51. How important is the relationship between a patient and a doctor?
52. What can doctors do to build trust with their patients?
53. How does culture affect the patient-doctor relationship?
54. What are the challenges of communicating bad news to patients?
55. How can doctors deal with difficult patients?

XII. Continuing Education for Medical Professionals
56. Why is continuing education important for doctors and nurses?
57. How do medical professionals stay updated on new research?
58. What are some ways doctors can continue their education?
59. How does continuing education benefit patients?
60. What challenges do medical professionals face in pursuing continuing education?

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