Fadiman Case Study
Fadiman Case Study
Unit 9
Kaplan University
NU304 Health/Wellness Assessment and Strategies
Professor Melissa Thomas-Eckroade, MSN, RN
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is a moving story that opens our eyes to the diversity of culture. It gives a perspectivefor the noncompliant patients due to cultural communication barriers versus noncompliance due to behavior. The author Fadiman allowed us to experience the collision of the two cultures misunderstandings, and the frustrations which could have ended differently. It was disheartening for me as a professional how the lack of support was even displayedfrom an institute where there were resourcesmuch needed for that community. Instead they use to obtain consent using embarrassed teenaged sons, for their mothers having a caesarean or episiotomies who have learned English in school, as translators. (Fadiman, pg. 25)The whole situation was tragic what Lia went through, tragic what the doctors went through, and tragic what the parents went through. I wonder if the medical staff back then was made to go through a cultural diversity education. The book went to tell the flashbacks of the Lee’s journey before becoming settled. It was humbling after reading what the Hmong’s endured. The author brought insight with culture awareness, respecting different aspects of professional values, and points of views. The scientific medical part of it was frustrating because the doctors and nurses are there to save people’s lives and this little girl was not responding to any therapy. From the parent’s point of view, it was a surprise the father did not take Lia sooner. For somebody who cannot read and was given the most important task with a complicated medication schedule regimen, the medications would have been out the window from not only not being to read them but not understanding why I am giving them to my daughter. When the Lee’s considered the illness an honor and felt
Unit 9
Kaplan University
NU304 Health/Wellness Assessment and Strategies
Professor Melissa Thomas-Eckroade, MSN, RN
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down is a moving story that opens our eyes to the diversity of culture. It gives a perspectivefor the noncompliant patients due to cultural communication barriers versus noncompliance due to behavior. The author Fadiman allowed us to experience the collision of the two cultures misunderstandings, and the frustrations which could have ended differently. It was disheartening for me as a professional how the lack of support was even displayedfrom an institute where there were resourcesmuch needed for that community. Instead they use to obtain consent using embarrassed teenaged sons, for their mothers having a caesarean or episiotomies who have learned English in school, as translators. (Fadiman, pg. 25)The whole situation was tragic what Lia went through, tragic what the doctors went through, and tragic what the parents went through. I wonder if the medical staff back then was made to go through a cultural diversity education. The book went to tell the flashbacks of the Lee’s journey before becoming settled. It was humbling after reading what the Hmong’s endured. The author brought insight with culture awareness, respecting different aspects of professional values, and points of views. The scientific medical part of it was frustrating because the doctors and nurses are there to save people’s lives and this little girl was not responding to any therapy. From the parent’s point of view, it was a surprise the father did not take Lia sooner. For somebody who cannot read and was given the most important task with a complicated medication schedule regimen, the medications would have been out the window from not only not being to read them but not understanding why I am giving them to my daughter. When the Lee’s considered the illness an honor and felt