Health and Culture
Historically, culture produced a profound impact on the healthcare system and
people representing different cultures often have different, if not to say antagonistic
views on healthcare services. In such a context, the effectiveness of the treatment
of patients suffering from such serious diseases as cancer, as is the case of
Billy Begay, may face unsurpassable barriers from the part of patients. In actuality,
Billy Begay is unwilling to provide his consent and he refuses from the operation
after the consultations with Dr. York, but such a decision is not the result
of his unwillingness to get cured, but it is rather the result of the cultural
gaps and erroneous approach of Dr. York to his patient, which, as the matter
of fact, is the result of his ignorance about the Navajo culture. On the other
hand, it is obvious that if the doctor was conscious of cultural peculiarities
and basic norms of the Navajos, he would likely choose a different approach
to his patient and he could talk Billy Begay in and convince him that the surgery
is really essential.
On analyzing the entire situation depicted in the video trailer, it is important
to underline that Dr. York has made a series of mistakes which influenced the
decision of Billy Begay and which are vitally important for the patient. First
of all, the trailer shows the clashes of two different cultures and two different
philosophies of healing and treatment. On the one hand, there is Dr. York who
is busy and concerned with his patients health, but he attempts to inform the
patient as much as possible about the effects of the treatment, including the
warning about the possibility of the lethal outcome of the surgery. On the other
hand, there is Billy Begay, a conservative Navajo, who is convinced that healing
has nothing to do with a rush, while the word death, used by the doctor, has
shocked the patient. Obviously, taking into consideration the cultural background
the doctor could not have used such a word in his conversation with the patient
for it is this word which has, to a significant extent, defined the decision
of Billy Begay. In addition, Billy Begay is convinced in the importance of the
harmony, which is a key concept for the effective treatment. He needs to live
in harmony and he cannot trust to the doctor who is so busy and materialistic,
which is absolutely unacceptable for the patients whose spiritual world constitutes
an essential part of his physical existence and, therefore, is essential for
the treatment.
In such a situation, the approach to the patient should be different. It is
possible to recommend using the assistance of his granddaughter to explain his
state and the necessity of the surgery. This will help avoid cultural conflicts
because she could adopt the message of the doctor to the norms of the Navajos.
At the same time, the doctor should apparently behave in a different way and
he should pay more attention to his patient.
References:
Klepper, D. (2005). Medical clinic records sought. Knight Ridder Tribune Business
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Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (2003). Home Page. Retrieved on May
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Cornell School of Law, Legal Information Institute (2000). State Statutes on
the Internet. Retrieved on May 22, 2008, from
http://www.law.cornell.edu/topics/state_statutes.html.
Spevak, C. (2006). The Grand Jury and Health Care Crimes: What Every Physician
Executive Needs to Know. Physician Executive, 32(1), 68- 70. Retrieved May 22,
2008, from Proquest.
United States Department of Health and Human Services (2003). Home Page. Retrieved
on May 22, 2008, from
http://www.os.dhhs.gov/.
United States Food and Drug Administration (2003). Frequently Asked Questions.
Retrieved on May 22, 2008, from
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/faqs/faqs.html.
