The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman: Understanding Other Cultures in Medicine
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman follows the journey of Lia Lee and her parents as they attempt to engage in Western medicine and find help for Lia's epilepsy. Although the tale ends in tragedy for Lia, the story clearly elucidates stark contrasts between Western and Eastern medicine. Additionally, the story teaches the reader about understanding other cultures and working to improve outcomes for all individuals in need of medical care.Considering first the specific themes that are present in the book, it seems reasonable to argue that cultural differences, ignorance and mis-communication are among the most notable. Considering first the issue of cultural differences, there are several instances that demonstrate the stark contrasts that exist between Western and Eastern culture. In the opening of the book, for instance, Fadiman considers how Lia's birth would have been different had she lived in her native county of Laos. These cultural differences are even further demonstrated when Lia's parents are forced to take her to a local emergency room, where no one on staff is able to communicate in the family's native language. These sharp contrasts clearly illustrate how
In addition to demonstrating rational thought and judgment in their decision to seek treatment of Lia, Lia's parents also demonstrate substantial coping skills in their efforts to care for their daughter. The second theme that appears to be prevalent in the text is that of ignorance. difficult it must have been for Lia's family to live in a Western society. Instead of addressing the underlying causes of these conditions however, Fadiman notes that nurses and other healthcare workers simply shrugged off the needs of this group, believing that their ignorance was, to some degree, incurable. The willingness of the family to actively seek treatment for their daughter clearly demonstrates that they wanted the best for their child. In short, nurses should work on developing basic skills-i. ConclusionLia's story is one that should be used as a teaching guide for nursing professionals and students all over the United States. In this context, disease is not a condition of the physical body; rather it is a condition of the soul, which must be rectified in order to put the physical and the psychological back in order. Treatments and interventions are aimed at healing the spirit. This is witnessed throughout the book, but in particular when the author provides a detailed description of the Hmong and the healthcare issues that impact this population. In addition to elucidating the challenges that arise when cultural differences are present in care, the story also demonstrates that Western medicine may not have all of the answers when it comes to providing care. With this in mind, it is not reasonable to blame anyone for the outcome. Rather solving the problem is the central focus of treatment. Despite the direst predictions, Lia's parents provide extensive care for Lia in the belief that her spirit is indeed lost. This explains why Lia's medication was changed 23 times by her physicians.
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