Edmonton woman can't communicate with unconscious father's doctors in Turkey
Translator provided by Canadian embassy does not understand medical terms
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An Edmonton man unconscious and in critical condition in a Turkish hospital needs help from the Canadian government, his daughter says.
Jasmine Mohamed said her father, Abdulkadir Mohamed, was on his way back to Canada when he had a stroke in the Istanbul airport.
After his family hadn't heard from him, she filed a missing person's report.
That's when she found out he was in hospital in Istanbul diagnosed with a stroke and a tumour, and had undergone surgery.
Mohamed is in Turkey now with her father, but said she's having trouble getting information about his condition.
Mohamed doesn't speak Turkish and says the translator provided by the Canadian embassy doesn't have the skills to translate the medical terms.
"She is Turkish, but she is unable to really translate for me as she doesn't understand medically," Mohamed said by phone from Istanbul.
"She can't translate what the doctors are saying. She doesn't understand herself and she's a bit overwhelmed."
Relying on Google Translate
Mohamed has been forced to use Google Translate to help her decipher medical reports at the hospital.
Mohamed said she's asked the embassy for another translator, but so far that hasn't happened.
Translating medical reports is something the Canadian government does not provide, she said.
"I'm here by myself, I'm very overwhelmed," she said. "I don't know what to do."
Mohamed said friends have reached out on her behalf to Edmonton MP Randy Boissonnault for help.
"I need the Canadian government to help a Canadian citizen," she said.
"It's ridiculous for a Canadian to be dying in a foreign country and nobody is doing anything about it," she said, her voice overcome by emotion.
In an emailed statement to CBC News, Global Affairs Canada said consular officials at the Canadian Embassy in Turkey are "providing consular assistance to a Canadian citizen and their family."
They also said they would not be releasing any more information about the case due to privacy concerns.
CBC has contacted Boissonnault about Mohamed's situation, but has not yet received a response.
Translator provided by Canadian embassy does not understand medical terms
278 shares
An Edmonton man unconscious and in critical condition in a Turkish hospital needs help from the Canadian government, his daughter says.
Jasmine Mohamed said her father, Abdulkadir Mohamed, was on his way back to Canada when he had a stroke in the Istanbul airport.
After his family hadn't heard from him, she filed a missing person's report.
That's when she found out he was in hospital in Istanbul diagnosed with a stroke and a tumour, and had undergone surgery.
Mohamed is in Turkey now with her father, but said she's having trouble getting information about his condition.
Mohamed doesn't speak Turkish and says the translator provided by the Canadian embassy doesn't have the skills to translate the medical terms.
"She is Turkish, but she is unable to really translate for me as she doesn't understand medically," Mohamed said by phone from Istanbul.
"She can't translate what the doctors are saying. She doesn't understand herself and she's a bit overwhelmed."
Relying on Google Translate
Mohamed has been forced to use Google Translate to help her decipher medical reports at the hospital.
Mohamed said she's asked the embassy for another translator, but so far that hasn't happened.
Translating medical reports is something the Canadian government does not provide, she said.
"I'm here by myself, I'm very overwhelmed," she said. "I don't know what to do."
Mohamed said friends have reached out on her behalf to Edmonton MP Randy Boissonnault for help.
"I need the Canadian government to help a Canadian citizen," she said.
"It's ridiculous for a Canadian to be dying in a foreign country and nobody is doing anything about it," she said, her voice overcome by emotion.
In an emailed statement to CBC News, Global Affairs Canada said consular officials at the Canadian Embassy in Turkey are "providing consular assistance to a Canadian citizen and their family."
They also said they would not be releasing any more information about the case due to privacy concerns.
CBC has contacted Boissonnault about Mohamed's situation, but has not yet received a response.
