Ethnocentrism And Cultural Relativism

Connecting various subject matters serves as a beneficial option for explaining complex ideas through factual information and theories that expand across multiple academic disciplines. A theory is a collection of ideas that intends to explain a complex idea, but there still remains uncertainties. On the other hand, a fact is defined as a concrete piece of information that correspond to truths, and serves the purpose of making a statement true. Naturally, we rely upon both facts and theories to develop new ideas to propel humankind forward. The interdisciplinary correlation of fact and theory across given areas of knowledge, such as ethics and history, have improved our medical treatment philosophies. Likewise, facts and theories from ethics
Ethnocentrism refers to the idea that one believes that their ethnic group is superior to other groups. Cultural relativism is the belief that all cultures are worthy and of equal value. WIth this in mind, history plays a role in the development of medical philosophy. Changes in medical practices are result from an understanding of a specific practice to be unethical, creating a need for a new procedure. For example, in the 1930s, Chloroform was used as anesthesia for surgeries and childbirth, and served as the initial treatment for surgery patients to remain unconscious before doctors discovered nitrous oxide gas as a safer alternative in the 1950s. From a cultural relativist perspective, it was understood that the nitrous oxide would be better for the consumer in terms of safety, and also better for the medical industry, given that the gas is developed naturally. Medical philosophies are thus a combination of different areas of knowledge, including ethics and history; however, the ethical principles of pharmaceutical companies have conflicted with the natural sciences. For example, in 2015, the company Turing Pharmaceuticals increased their price of their AIDS medication Daraprim from $13.50 to $750 overnight. Looking at this from a ethnocentrist perspective, Turing Pharmaceuticals understood that their price hike would generate more income for themselves, which overruled the financial burden on the consumers. For those not under government assistance programs, there is a clear discrepancy, given that not all patients will be able to afford their medications that they have been prescribed. In conclusion, a framework of medical treatments is presented . however, this is contradicted by some ethical standards, ergo revealing flaws in current medical