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How Did You Notice Culture Impacting The Health And Illness Course Of Lia Lee

614 Words3 Pages

1. How did you notice culture impacting the health and illness course of Lia Lee and her family in these beginning chapters?
Culture plays a big role in the in the course of illness of Lia Lee. In chapter one of the book, it already gave the reader a glimpse of how different Hmong and American culture are when it comes to giving birth and naming a child. Another critical element is the difference of the two culture in addressing illness. The Hmongs have a Shaman who comes in their home, spends time with the family and the patient. Shamans treat their patient’s spirit as well as the body and can make an immediate diagnosis. The American medical system very different in so many aspects that Fouya and Nao Lee is having a difficult time accepting …show more content…

Were some of the repercussions that resulted because of the clash between the use of Hmong traditional practices and the physicians’ biomedical treatment in the care of Lia Lee?
Yes. Lia’s parent and the medical professional at MCMC both cared for Lia and wanted the best for her. However, in Hmong’s culture seizure is seen as divine in nature and MCMC’s aggressive treatment did not sit well with Lia’s parent primarily because of lack of understanding and because of this. Fouya and Nao decided to do what they believe in and that is to follow what they thought is the most effective way to treat the seizure in their culture by offering a sacrifice, consulting with a Shaman, dermal treatment and others.
3. Identify how communication played a role in the trajectory of Lia Lee’s illness up to this point in the text.
Communication played a big role and is the major reason why Lia is in this horrible situation. The system actually failed Lia, Lia’s parent and the medical personnel at MCMC who were involved in Lia’s care. Although the doctors and nurses can be blamed why they gave prescriptions to be taken at home without ensuring understanding of the parents, why an interpreter is not present during treatment and consultation, it is also the parent’s responsibility to ask

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