Spirit Catches Have a Friend

Spirit Catches have a friend who became very sick in high school. Her hair started falling out and she had severe headaches. For four years, she went from doctor to doctor at some of the most prestigious hospitals in the country. Each doctor, a specialist, took the same blood tests over and shook their heads. They knew what the basic problem was, but not the cause. A friend of her mother's recommended a local doctor. She did not want to go. She had so much blood drawn and seen so many doctors. Her mother said she had to go. The doctor looked at her file and said, "I believe I know what it is." My friend said, "Aren't you doing more tests?" He said, just a quick x-ray. He was not a specialist and was not looking at this from a specific point-of-view. He knew what the problem was immediately. He was right, and she is doing better.

In the future, our country is going to become more heterogeneous and the world is becoming more global and international. I will be confronted with individuals of all backgrounds. I need to keep an open mind and realize that my cultural values and beliefs will not be the same as others'. Sometimes, however, it is necessary to find a compromise between two different points-of-view. This is difficult, but it is often the best way to resolve an issue. I have been in groups where there are many different points-of-view and it is necessary for the facilitator to try to find a middle ground that is acceptable for everyone.

Recently I went to a doctor who sat down and actually talked with me. I was amazed and told him that. Normally, the doctors rush in and out and barely say anything or answer any questions. I heard about one doctor who said that he never looks at the patient, because that encourages discussion. Based on the number of patients he needs to see every day for insurance purposes, he times himself in the room with the patient. How horrible!

Part of the problem that occurred in this situation was because the hospital did not hire enough translators, nor did it have enough help to send home a nurse to Lia's house in the very beginning. However, that does not excuse the pediatricians. They should have made sure that someone told the parents from the very beginning what they were doing and why and what would happen if the directions were not followed. Then, if the parents did not listen to the doctors, they assumed more of the responsibility of what happened. How could the doctors expect the medicine to be taken correctly when the parents did not read, did not know mathematical symbols and were given change after change. They were blindsided by their own diagnosis and the arrogance that everyone would follow their treatment exactly. Nor can the doctors be excused for not understanding the Hmong ways. Reading National Geographic (pg. 57) is not the way to learn about a culture! Dr. Murphy's comment that "[p]eople in the early years of their medical careers have invested an incredible amount of time and energy and pain in their training, and they have been taught that what they've learned in medical school is the only legitimate way to approach health problems" surely does not cover their actions, either. The story about Dr. Fife, who is ironically considered "inferior," demonstrates the need to respect people for their beliefs.