information across cultural boundaries, in a way that preserves mutual respect and minimizes antagonism (Wikipedia, 1). People across the world communicate and respond to situations differently. These differences occur due to ones culture and upbringing. In the book The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down Lia Lee’s family and the Mercede medical community had many problems with intercultural communication. There were lessons to be learned by all involved. I believe those who learned the most were the resident pediatricians Neil Ernst and Peggy Philip. I place them together because that was how they were seen in the hospital. Other doctors stated it was hard to perceive them differently. I believe the parents had quite an eye opening encounter with western medicine. They were set in their ways and didn’t want to conform to the ways of western medicine.
Neil and Peggy were well respected and dedicated doctors. They wanted what was best for Lia. So did Lia’s parent. What the doctors thought was best and what the family thought was best were at opposite ends of the spectrum. The doctors wanted a strict regiment of medicine and the parents wanted to use traditional folk medicine to care for their daughter. They felt the western medicine was harming Lia. Neither the doctors or the Lees knew much of the others cultural views toward medicine. Neil and Peggy did make some effort to try and understand the culture of the Hmong a little better, but I can’t say the same for the Lee’s.
Neil and Peggy had to learn the importance of the Hmong culture and they way they perceived medicine and healing. They had to learn that Western medicine isn’t the only right way to treat a patient. They also needed to realize that the Lee’s didn’t necessarily want to come to America. They were refugees from a war torn country. It is important for the doctors to understand the Hmongs culture, values and needs. Everyone involved needs to realize that their culture is not the...