i. Identify and discuss THREE cultural issues entailed in the healthcare series.
1) The first issue that leapt out to me when watching Worlds Apart: A Series on Cross-Cultural Health Care; Part 1 is the idea of how western medicine needs to treat the dying in an intercultural scenario. Western medicine practices reflect the belief in the importance, dignity, and sovereignty of every individual. Because of this, every person is entitled to patient autonomy and self-determination (Samovar, 2010, p. 381). The reason this mindset can cause problems is because not every culture prescribes to the notion that every person is an island unto themselves. Many culture believes that families are an interdependent community with a right to be informed …show more content…
Human languages around the world present very different models of what health and illness and medical care are, depending on the metaphors the language uses for these phenomena. These ideas can range from all illnesses are caused by evil thoughts, to everything comes back to germs. (Samovar, 2010, p. 378). Due to this, communication between heath care provider and patient is absolutely essential, particularly when the two do not speak the same language fluently. That is why the use of a professional translator is critical. While the use of family members as translators might be a more convenient method, it is also very dangerous. A family member is liable to modify the questions a physician’s asks out of concern for a family member’s privacy, or change the patient’s response (Samovar, 2010, p. 381). In order to ensure that a patient receives the highest quality care, and make sure the health care provider is legally protected, the health care provider must use a professional translator that can make sure that communication between doctor and patient is not hindered by language or culture. This is part of the problem Mohammad Kochi ran into when he was seeking treatment for his stomach cancer. Kochi refused chemotherapy in part because of poor communication between his doctors and his daughters, who acted as his
1) The first issue that leapt out to me when watching Worlds Apart: A Series on Cross-Cultural Health Care; Part 1 is the idea of how western medicine needs to treat the dying in an intercultural scenario. Western medicine practices reflect the belief in the importance, dignity, and sovereignty of every individual. Because of this, every person is entitled to patient autonomy and self-determination (Samovar, 2010, p. 381). The reason this mindset can cause problems is because not every culture prescribes to the notion that every person is an island unto themselves. Many culture believes that families are an interdependent community with a right to be informed …show more content…
Human languages around the world present very different models of what health and illness and medical care are, depending on the metaphors the language uses for these phenomena. These ideas can range from all illnesses are caused by evil thoughts, to everything comes back to germs. (Samovar, 2010, p. 378). Due to this, communication between heath care provider and patient is absolutely essential, particularly when the two do not speak the same language fluently. That is why the use of a professional translator is critical. While the use of family members as translators might be a more convenient method, it is also very dangerous. A family member is liable to modify the questions a physician’s asks out of concern for a family member’s privacy, or change the patient’s response (Samovar, 2010, p. 381). In order to ensure that a patient receives the highest quality care, and make sure the health care provider is legally protected, the health care provider must use a professional translator that can make sure that communication between doctor and patient is not hindered by language or culture. This is part of the problem Mohammad Kochi ran into when he was seeking treatment for his stomach cancer. Kochi refused chemotherapy in part because of poor communication between his doctors and his daughters, who acted as his