Question

In the preface, the author sets the stage for a story about a collision of cultures. Have you ever had an experience with a healthcare provider in which you felt that your different backgrounds were a barrier to your care? If so, would you be willing to share that story? What brought the Lee family to the United States in the first place. Describe how you imagine that journey to be. Try to put yourself in their shoes, if you can. Describe the differences between the experience of labor and delivery in Laos compared to the United States in the 1970s/1980s (as the book describes it). What stands out as the major differences to you? What do you think it must be like to give birth under unfamiliar conditions?

Answer 1

1. Lee family arrived to US while recruiting Hmong to fight the North Vietnamese in Laos, when they lost, these people fled to America. At the time of the Lia Lee mother to give a birth, circumstances were in such a way that she can't speak the language of the Americans and also there were no mediators to translate. Barrier of language and yet the hospitality were not adequate to her and hence she faced a lot of difficulties to give a birth. This story has changed the phase of treatment in the Western areas.

2. An African American described aptly that the discrimination in the health care system is not shown directly but are shown smooth and sweet. He also told that the discrimination can be felt easily through the behavioural aspects of the health care providers.

3. Discrimination can be varied from one's race, financial status, ethnicity to language and this could turn very complex as treatment sometimes depends on these factors at some places.

4. Patient's appearance can be a factor in order to get an appointment or approval as is mentioned by Hispanic.

5. Economics and Insurance status could turn as a factor to health care provision as it describes the ability of the patient to pay for the services swiftly.

6. According to some surveys and studies, racial and ethnic minorities are received less appropriate medical services than the non minorities. But through some research and studies it's decided to eliminate these factor based treatments and possibly provide equality based treatment in the future.