You are a pediatrician at a family
practice. A father, Mr. L, brings his 12-year-old son, Tim, to your office because
his son has had a slight fever and other flu-like symptoms. You are told by the
translator that the family emigrated from Vietnam a couple of years ago and are
becoming accustomed to their new lives in America. However, in spite of their
attempt to assimilate, they uphold and value many traditions from their
culture.
During the routine check-up, you ask the son to remove his shirt. You observe bruising in a pattern across his back. You ask the translator to question the father about the bruises, and he explains that Mr. L’s wife, Mrs. L, performed cạo gió on their son. The translator continues to convey Mr. L’s message to you on how cạo gió involves oiling and firmly rubbing the skin with a coin in order to restore balance in the body. He further reveals that the family believes that an excess of “wind” causes many illnesses and how cạo gió, or “catch the wind,” is a method of raising the blood to the surface of the skin and releasing this bad wind. He also explains that this is a common practice in Vietnamese families to improve mental and physical wellbeing.
After discussing these alternative medicine practices with Mr. L, you return to your check up with Tim. When you place your stethoscope on Tim’s tiny back, he winces in pain from the bruises, which concerns you. Should you report the parents to the Child Protection Agency?
During the routine check-up, you ask the son to remove his shirt. You observe bruising in a pattern across his back. You ask the translator to question the father about the bruises, and he explains that Mr. L’s wife, Mrs. L, performed cạo gió on their son. The translator continues to convey Mr. L’s message to you on how cạo gió involves oiling and firmly rubbing the skin with a coin in order to restore balance in the body. He further reveals that the family believes that an excess of “wind” causes many illnesses and how cạo gió, or “catch the wind,” is a method of raising the blood to the surface of the skin and releasing this bad wind. He also explains that this is a common practice in Vietnamese families to improve mental and physical wellbeing.
After discussing these alternative medicine practices with Mr. L, you return to your check up with Tim. When you place your stethoscope on Tim’s tiny back, he winces in pain from the bruises, which concerns you. Should you report the parents to the Child Protection Agency?
--Written by Kiran Singh
No comments:
Post a Comment