Health Reform
INTRO: In the United States there are a variety of different religions, cultures, and beliefs that are practiced all throughout. A lot of these religions and cultures are brought to America from immigrants who fled their homeland for a better life here in America. They hope to practice their beliefs and values in a country who accepts freedom of religion. For example, Hmong refugees came to America around the time of the Vietnam War. Hmong’s are a small Southeast Asian group who have unique cultural beliefs and native practices. Due to their traditional beliefs, Hmong’s provide some difficulty to healthcare professionals. According to Dimensions of Culture, “..their adaption to our western model of healthcare delivery is often …show more content…
Social agents are experts in medical treatments including the use of magic bullets, but they are ill-informed about Hmong culture and how to work with it to create a patient-physician relationship. Social agents are able to address the physical symptoms, but the parents retained their traditional, and cultural treatment practices, including consultation with a shaman, to address the spiritual aspects of Lia’s illness. For example, one physician, the primary pediatrician, finds unacceptable the parents’ inability and sometimes resistance to properly give Lia the medication that he prescribes. Eventually he reports her parents’ failures to the child protective services agency for an investigation of child endangerment. In the book, Fadiman conveys that he wants to send a message to the Lee family as well as to other members of the Hmong culture about acceptable behaviors when they seek medical help from doctors. Fadiman writes a compelling account of the Lee family’s ordeal, Lia’s health during foster care, and the various miscommunications. The Lee family challenged the medical model system …show more content…
Evolution in human society takes place due to wide cultural diversities that brings novelties and enhancements in the cultural environment. It is necessary to understand that cultural differences facilitate the relationship between people of different geographical areas. The society would have been a boring place without the give and take of culture. However, it is necessary for the society to adapt to the present culture and understand the norms and traditions behind the rituals. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is a critically acclaimed book that Anne Fadiman has written about the struggle between Western medical doctors and providers and the traditional healing practices of the Hmong. In the book, differing cultural views come into conflict as both sides work to help a little girl named Lia, who has epilepsy. Ultimately, this conflict led to a disastrous conclusion for all parties involved. Lia had a severe seizure that left her in a vegetative
INTRO: In the United States there are a variety of different religions, cultures, and beliefs that are practiced all throughout. A lot of these religions and cultures are brought to America from immigrants who fled their homeland for a better life here in America. They hope to practice their beliefs and values in a country who accepts freedom of religion. For example, Hmong refugees came to America around the time of the Vietnam War. Hmong’s are a small Southeast Asian group who have unique cultural beliefs and native practices. Due to their traditional beliefs, Hmong’s provide some difficulty to healthcare professionals. According to Dimensions of Culture, “..their adaption to our western model of healthcare delivery is often …show more content…
Social agents are experts in medical treatments including the use of magic bullets, but they are ill-informed about Hmong culture and how to work with it to create a patient-physician relationship. Social agents are able to address the physical symptoms, but the parents retained their traditional, and cultural treatment practices, including consultation with a shaman, to address the spiritual aspects of Lia’s illness. For example, one physician, the primary pediatrician, finds unacceptable the parents’ inability and sometimes resistance to properly give Lia the medication that he prescribes. Eventually he reports her parents’ failures to the child protective services agency for an investigation of child endangerment. In the book, Fadiman conveys that he wants to send a message to the Lee family as well as to other members of the Hmong culture about acceptable behaviors when they seek medical help from doctors. Fadiman writes a compelling account of the Lee family’s ordeal, Lia’s health during foster care, and the various miscommunications. The Lee family challenged the medical model system …show more content…
Evolution in human society takes place due to wide cultural diversities that brings novelties and enhancements in the cultural environment. It is necessary to understand that cultural differences facilitate the relationship between people of different geographical areas. The society would have been a boring place without the give and take of culture. However, it is necessary for the society to adapt to the present culture and understand the norms and traditions behind the rituals. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is a critically acclaimed book that Anne Fadiman has written about the struggle between Western medical doctors and providers and the traditional healing practices of the Hmong. In the book, differing cultural views come into conflict as both sides work to help a little girl named Lia, who has epilepsy. Ultimately, this conflict led to a disastrous conclusion for all parties involved. Lia had a severe seizure that left her in a vegetative