3. Give specific examples of how health care professionals did not value or respond effectively to any of the Hmong values/beliefs you have listed in the questions above. What was the outcome of that cultural insensitivity.
The Hmong traditions, beliefs and ways of life were often compromised at the hands of American society. Cultural insensitivity is prevalent throughout the Hmong’s journey with the American health care system. Between 8 months and 4.5 years Lia was in the hospital seventeen times and made more the one hundred visits to ER and paediatric clinic. The health care system failed to attempt to understand the Hmong language and culture, which lead to the Hmong adapting their cultural traditions and familiarities to please
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Nao Kao did not understand why his daughter was tied down, revoking more of his trust in the health care system he kept removing them. This is a perfect example of how easily communication and trusting nurse-client relationship could have prevented this misunderstanding and ambiguity. Peggy and Neil prescribed numerous medications for Lia over the course of her hospital visits. Nao Kao and Foua did not speak or read English, leading her to keep seizing because she did not have enough Phenobarbital in her blood, “Foua and Nao Kao, of course, had no idea what the labels said” (p.46). American doctors believed decreasing the risk of the seizures as more important, and the Lee’s viewed Lia’s nature and personality as more significant. The Lee’s were horrified with the side effects of the medications that disrupted her character. Thus leading to the doctors thinking the Lee’s were non-compliant with her medical regime. This, however, was clearly not the issue as the Hmong cherished and loved their children so deeply. They only had diverse beliefs and …show more content…
As a nurse dignity is providing each individual with the best possible care despite circumstances, differences in morals, beliefs and cultures. It is preserving personhood and humanity in all situations, acknowledging their values even if they contradict our own. Both Lia’s parents and the doctors had Lia’s best interest in mind they had different view points and approaches in reaching that unanimous goal. Caregivers could have restored dignity to the Lee’s by making them feel respected, that their traditions and culture were valued. Neil and Peggy were even more surprised- and grieved- to learn that the Lees believed that Lia had been taken from them in the first place not to safeguard her health but because the doctors were angry at [them] for being non compliant, and wished to inflict punishment (p.110). This story is immensely impactful but also enraging from my personal perspective. I can see how easily the anger of the health care providers, the misunderstandings from the Lee’s, their anxiety, stress, worry, could have all been diminished with simple communication. Dignity preservation could have been more evident if the Americans simply tried to understand their language or hired and interpreter. Caregivers could show an interest in their traditions and belief’s and respect their choice to take home the placentas, utilize natural remedies, or sacrifice animals. A
In a healthcare setting you will see different cultures that will come and go. It is very important to know how to deal with each culture so that you can help them while still making sure they are comfortable. Native Americans have many different characteristics because of the different tribes from all over the world. Healthcare providers should be familiar with them so they know how to distinguish them if needed. While knowing their characteristics they should also know how to interact with Native Americans as well since their culture is a lot different than ours, we want to make sure that we don’t disrespect them.
In Chapter 5 there is a passage that discusses the frustration the doctors are having toward the Lees. Neil and Peggy were very upset at the parents for their noncompliance and it was difficult to work with the Lees because of how hard the work was and they had to face resentment, instead of appreciation from the Lees. They were also frustrated that the Lees never paid for any medical care and didn’t seem to appreciate their generosity for helping them when Medi-Cal was a low insurance program. Lia’s parents made Peggy and Neil feel as if all their year’s education, awards, and the amount of time they spent educating themselves about the Hmong didn’t matter. They struggled watching Lia fail to receive treatment and thought they could give her a better life (Passage summary found on page
After reading Dr. Galanti 's articles about culturally competent healthcare please answer the following questions: What did you gain from reading Dr. Galanti 's article? Dr. Galanti provides insight into the relationship between cultural diversity and heath care providers. Dr. Galanti’s briefly states the difference between “stereotype and generalization”. The author recognizes that generalization may be a key factor used by workers in the health care community to bring awareness and a better understanding of cultural differences among patients. The article explains that although cultures differ in values, traditions, and beliefs, there are questions (the 4’C’s of culture) that may open up the line of communication, between provider and
Puerto Rican Culture Religion, culture, beliefs, and ethnic customs can influence how patients understand health concepts, how they take care of their health, and how they make decisions related to their health (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2015). As a nurse, it is important to understand that not every patient shares the same healthcare beliefs. A nurse must be able to perform his or her duties without judgement and care for each patient with respect for their own unique set of beliefs and morals. In this paper, the Puerto Rican culture will be discussed, from family units to religious and cultural beliefs, as well as how Western Medicine fits into their healthcare. Explain the culture.
Family and group solidarity are important to the Hmong, yet they were forced to split apart during their journey to America. The Hmong also partook in ceremonies, dances, and sacrifices that were important to them and their religion, however, the doctors and other people were wary of these practices and didn’t condone them, especially when it came to patients such as Lia Lee. Lee’s doctors were constantly giving her shots, medicine, and feeding her through tubes. Her parents didn’t approve of this at all and thought that the medicines they were giving her was what was killing her.
The MCMC—the hospital where Lia was—agreed to discharge her and allow Lia to return home. Before they were allowed to leave, however, a nurse asked Nao Faso to sign a document which he believed said that Lia would die within two hours’ time—within Hmong culture, “foretelling death is strongly taboo” (Fadiman 1997, 177). They believe that proclamations of death will only bring death closer, so this paper was seen as a threat to the life of Lia. In what Fadiman sees as true Hmong fashion, Nao Kao grabbed Lia and attempted to flee the hospital (1997, 178).
Those are just small examples of how different cultures can be. With the absence of cultural competency in health care it could for example happen, that a patient from Japan, called Suzuki Yasuo, is seeing a doctor. The doctor is used to American patients and starts their interaction with big eye contact, and a kind but strong hand shake. While shaking his hand he says: “Good afternoon Yasuo!” and continues speaking with a loud voice about the issue that has to be solved on that day.
Another major factor of Thao's medication error was fatigue. That had been picking up extra shifts, including the one in which she worked on the fourth of July. Her lack of proper rest and not giving her mind time to receive those eight hours caused the confusion between the two IV containing the two kinds of medication. Despite the fact that Thao had been a nurse for several years prior to the event, Thao did not follow the proper protocol to ensure that patient's safety. She gave her un-prescribed medication which resulted in Jasmines death.
Josie’s death shouldn’t have happened, and would’ve probably been avoided if someone took the time to truly listen to her mother’s concerns. Reading Josie’s story opened my eyes to the dire need of communication between the medical team and patients and/or family members. Sorrel, Josie’s mother, tried numerous times to alert the medical team of the changes observed in her daughter, yet no one listened. She highlights the severe breakdown in communication and the necessary steps needed to rectify our medical
Or she could’ve shared some statistics the shows the number of people who uses Hmongspeak in their lives. Sharing or adding statistics always helps things to get more serious. If Lee could’ve added statistics or other people’s stories, the readers will be like “So, it’s not just me who’s going through this”, or in a different way it will make Lee’s piece more and more relatable. Which will eventually spread more awareness and help to reduce the use of Hmong
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down In the book, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, Anne Fadiman explores the cultural collision between the Hmong Lee family and their American doctors. Along with the culture clash, the social stigma against the Hmong family brings to light a lot of the systematic, moral, and ethical issues that can arise in our healthcare. Ultimately, the combination of the cultural clash in medical perspectives, the underlying social stigma, the inadequate treatment, and the miscommunication hindered the proper diagnosis and recovery of led to the demise of the Hmong child. However, many of the problems could have been easily avoided or resolved with more patience, objectivity, and most importantly, cultural competence.
Over the progression of the book the view points and relationships between the Lees and the doctors develops slightly. The medical staff was not prepared with a translator or a cultural understanding of the Hmong and how their beliefs would not match up with their medical practices. “Not only do the Hmong fail resoundingly to improve the payer mix- more than eighty percent are on Medi-Cal- but they have proved even more costly than other indigent patients, because they generally require more time and attention, and because there are so many of them that MCMC has to hire bilingual staff members to mediate between patients and providers” (Fadiman 25). This theme in the story was immensely eye opening for all of the cultural gaps that exist throughout the United States. The solution to this problem is for both sides standing on opposite sides of the gap to take the time to bridge the gap together.
Research Questions: How does the Hmong culture affect Hmong people’s social identity in American society? Thesis: The Hmong culture affect social identity with its beliefs, values, and traditions due to the older generations continuing to practice the culture in order to pass it down to the next generation. The Hmong culture continues to express the ideals of its ancestors. However, the Hmong people holds traditions as the most valuable aspect of Hmong culture.
According to Purnell (2014) “Hmong children often have not developed a vocabulary that can fully interpret medical terms” (pg. 238) and should be
One of it is the proper way of upholding patient 's rights when it comes to medical research. As a nursing major, I am aware that it is one of my ethical responsibilities to ensure that utmost care and treatment are provided to my patient 's advocate which means that we should stand and do something when we see malpractice being done to our patients. The doctors used Vivian as a research subject, but her nurse Susie struggles to guarantee the most beneficial care and treatment is provided for her. This film depicts the significance of advocating and fighting for patients as well as their rights in order to ensure that they are receiving optimal medical treatment.