# Any countries where certain professions don't exist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 10, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-countries-where-certain-professions-dont-exist/683313 "2014-03-10T00:37:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-countries-where-certain-professions-dont-exist/683313/41 "2014-03-10T15:22:16Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > Are there any private detectives in Ireland, though? I’m just across the border in the UK and I don’t think we really have them here. The reasons may be spurious, but the lack of of them may be true. Private detectives, no. \*Consulting \*detectives, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-countries-where-certain-professions-dont-exist/683313/42 "2014-03-10T15:24:11Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > I was going to make a joke about Switerland’s Navy, but apparently, [they actually have one!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_navy#Lakes_flotilla) Switzerland even has an aircraft carrier! Proof: [http://postimg.org/image/46038g301/](http://postimg.org/image/46038g301/) ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-countries-where-certain-professions-dont-exist/683313/43 "2014-03-10T16:38:54Z")
> [@Claverhouse](#): > > Being an informer in Ireland is not a profession, but a vocation. > As for the Vatican, there are under 900 residents ( only 220+ are citizens: conversely others are citizens, but not residents ) of whom: > \* > Statistics published in the year 2011 it was mentioned that there were 32 Women Citizens in Vatican City State at the time. Of these women 31 were laywoman and one was a Nun.\* > > **[The Vatican . Com](http://vatican.com/articles/info/the_vaticans_population-a56)** Yeah, Vatican City is obviously one end that clears out much of this argument. Of the \<900 people you’re probably only covering a handful of occupations. But let’s say you revised the OP to countries of a certain size, eliminating the ones like San Marino or Monaco that you could crawl across. There are presumably jobs that there’s just no use for given a geography (not a lot of ice road truckers in Haiti, for countries that are chiefly the Sahara desert I’m sure there’s not much call for forestry)… and then you have some that are just luxury positions (Starbucks baristas in Central African Republic) ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-countries-where-certain-professions-dont-exist/683313/44 "2014-03-10T16:50:30Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > The US military permits prostitution at normal levels on its foreign bases? How do the prostitutes get in?. Don’t ask, don’t tell. What are “normal levels?” ---
**Author:** ![bryanmaguire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bryanmaguire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bryanmaguire)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-countries-where-certain-professions-dont-exist/683313/45 "2014-03-10T17:45:01Z")
There most definitely are private detectives in Ireland. They mostly work on insurance fraud and the serving of summonses. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-countries-where-certain-professions-dont-exist/683313/46 "2014-03-10T17:54:44Z")
My former profession of Construction Inspector barely or doesn’t at all exist in some third world countries, and in many others, it’s better described as Bribe-taker. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-countries-where-certain-professions-dont-exist/683313/47 "2014-03-10T19:17:52Z")
> [@Donnerwetter](#): > > There are no coroners in Germany (which is also the case, I believe, in other European countries). Who makes a determination of the cause of deaths? ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-countries-where-certain-professions-dont-exist/683313/48 "2014-03-10T19:33:56Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Who makes a determination of the cause of deaths? The death certificate is issued by a medical doctor. If the doctor suspects foul play or there are other unusual circumstances (for instance an apparent suicide), the police and the district attorney are called in who will seek the help of a forensic pathologist. There are claims that the system in Germany is far from perfect and there are estimates that there could be a significant number of unreported, suspicious deaths. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-countries-where-certain-professions-dont-exist/683313/49 "2014-03-10T19:37:16Z")
Isn’t it the case that in some American states, at least, a coroner doesn’t need to be an MD? ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2014, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-countries-where-certain-professions-dont-exist/683313/50 "2014-03-10T20:05:59Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Maybe it is not exactly a profession, not full time anyway, but the Notary Public is a thing in the USA but not in Britain. A British solicitor can (and sometimes does) perform equivalent functions, but a solicitor is a fully qualified lawyer, whereas an American Notary does not need to be. I think in the US you just need to take a short class and possibly get a basic background check. A friend of mine got certified IIRC within a few weeks. ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-countries-where-certain-professions-dont-exist/683313/51 "2014-03-11T02:43:26Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > There’s only [one pig](http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/08/quarantine-for-afghanistans-only-pig/) in Afghanistan so, presumably, there are no swineherds there. And, I imagine, for much of the rest of the middle east. That article is hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-countries-where-certain-professions-dont-exist/683313/52 "2014-03-11T02:56:48Z")
> [@Kenm](#): > > Isn’t it the case that in some American states, at least, a coroner doesn’t need to be an MD? Correct. [South Carolina Coroner qualifications](http://www.sc-coroners.org/qualifications.htm) do not require an MD. You must be a citizen and have some experience or education related to death investigations (or be an enrolled student in a forensic science course), but no medical degree is required. Other stated may have similar requirements. As an aside, you only need a bachelor’s degree to be [appointed as a magistrate](http://www.judicial.state.sc.us/judges/howjudgeselected.cfm) in South Carolina. No legal degree required. :eek: As to the OP. No [soldiers in Costa Rica](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Costa_Rica)? They eliminated their military in 1948. Probably plenty of military retirees from other countries living there though. [A few other countries have no standing military](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_without_armed_forces) as well. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-countries-where-certain-professions-dont-exist/683313/53 "2014-03-11T04:20:50Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > There’s only [one pig](http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/08/quarantine-for-afghanistans-only-pig/) in Afghanistan so, presumably, there are no swineherds there. And, I imagine, for much of the rest of the middle east. Lonely, but at least this little piggy won’t go to market. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-countries-where-certain-professions-dont-exist/683313/54 "2014-03-11T04:41:43Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > As to the OP. No [soldiers in Costa Rica](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Costa_Rica)? They eliminated their military in 1948. Probably plenty of military retirees from other countries living there though. [A few other countries have no standing military](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_without_armed_forces) as well. Panama also technically doesn’t have an army, but some of the police forces, especially the border patrol, are hardly distinguishable from military forces except for the lack of heavy weapons. ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-countries-where-certain-professions-dont-exist/683313/55 "2014-03-11T07:34:32Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > Are there any private detectives in Ireland, though? I’m just across the border in the UK and I don’t think we really have them here. The reasons may be spurious, but the lack of of them may be true. As bryanmaguire says, there are private detectives in Ireland. Many are former gardaí. I’ve even employed one once. ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-countries-where-certain-professions-dont-exist/683313/56 "2014-03-11T07:43:52Z")
There are no doctors of osteopathic medicine and no optometrists in Germany. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-countries-where-certain-professions-dont-exist/683313/57 "2014-03-11T08:47:48Z")
> [@Donnerwetter](#): > > There are no doctors of osteopathic medicine and no optometrists in Germany. Depends on what you mean by “optometrist”. In many countries the term refers to medical doctors who specialize in the treatment of eye problems, in which case of course Germany has those. If you mean a healthcare professional who is not licensed as a physician, but who performs eye diagnoses and treatments, yeah, Germany doesn’t have those. ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-countries-where-certain-professions-dont-exist/683313/58 "2014-03-11T10:01:16Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Depends on what you mean by “optometrist”. In many countries the term refers to medical doctors who specialize in the treatment of eye problems, in which case of course Germany has those. If you mean a healthcare professional who is not licensed as a physician, but who performs eye diagnoses and treatments, yeah, Germany doesn’t have those. That is correct. It is important to know that in Germany, you don’t need a prescription to buy corrective eyeglasses. You can walk into any optician’s shop and get an eye exam which will be performed by an optician. This exam, however, will focus exclusively on vision acuity. The first in his life my father went to a physician who specializes in eye health care (ophthalmologist), he was already in his seventies. Before that, he had always purchased his eyeglasses from the same optician who also performed the eye exam until one day, he was told by the optician to see (no pun intended) an eye doctor. And sure enough, at that point he was diagnosed with cataracts. It’s also important to note that opticians are a well regulated business in Germany; every optician’s shop has to be run under the supervision of an experienced “master optician” (but who is usually not university/college trained). You can also opt to go to an ophthalmologist to get an prescription, but that’s more expensive and there is anecdotal evidence that opticians often do better job in figuring out what glasses you need. ---
**Author:** ![Frank\_Merton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Frank\_Merton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank_Merton)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-countries-where-certain-professions-dont-exist/683313/59 "2014-03-11T11:49:01Z")
You would have a hard time finding a GP or family practitioner in Vietnam. Health care is organized differently. If you are sick you go to a clinic (they are all over the place and set up to compete as well as be convenient) where a triage nurse (often with an MD) takes your story and refers you to appropriate tests and then after they are back to appropriate specialists or if that is not needed gives you advice and prescription(s). For most minor things you just to go a pharmacist; they are allowed to dispense almost anything, with of course some obvious exceptions. It all works a lot cheaper and a lot faster than in the States or most of Europe. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2014, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-countries-where-certain-professions-dont-exist/683313/60 "2014-03-11T13:16:27Z")
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