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Applied Medical Anthropology
A general understanding of applied medical anthropology is that it uses research and other concrete findings to apply to the medical field; they observe then apply. This type of anthropology is a way to solve problems.
In Anne Fadiman's book The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, I do not feel applied medical anthropology was used a lot. Lia's doctors did not take into account the Hmong traditions when trying to treat Lia Lee. The Hmong culture usually turns to a Shaman for healing purposes, but the Lee's had decided to try taking their daughter to the hospital because they knew her condition was bad. Once the biomedicine techniques begun the Lee's did not like the side effects that came along with the medicines, so they tried to use some of their healing ways instead. As a result Lia's doctor called Child Protective Services and Lia was removed from the house. If applied medical anthropology was used the doctors would have seen that the Lee's were not trying to harm their daughter, they were simply using their cultural techniques to heal their daughter. Applied medical anthropology is critical in todays medicine because like Lia's case if it had been used the effects of Lia's "grand mal seizure" could have been lessened along with all her other seizures that brought her to the hospital. (Fadiman 1997) The hospital could have used applied medical anthropology by having more interpreters or bilingual nurses that could have made house calls since the Hmong family did not understand English, therefore making it difficult for them to follow the medical regimen. Another way that it could have been used was to simply try and understand their culture and how they interpreted Lia's condition and from there the interactions and treatments could have been successful rather than something that was dreaded.
A general understanding of applied medical anthropology is that it uses research and other concrete findings to apply to the medical field; they observe then apply. This type of anthropology is a way to solve problems.
In Anne Fadiman's book The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, I do not feel applied medical anthropology was used a lot. Lia's doctors did not take into account the Hmong traditions when trying to treat Lia Lee. The Hmong culture usually turns to a Shaman for healing purposes, but the Lee's had decided to try taking their daughter to the hospital because they knew her condition was bad. Once the biomedicine techniques begun the Lee's did not like the side effects that came along with the medicines, so they tried to use some of their healing ways instead. As a result Lia's doctor called Child Protective Services and Lia was removed from the house. If applied medical anthropology was used the doctors would have seen that the Lee's were not trying to harm their daughter, they were simply using their cultural techniques to heal their daughter. Applied medical anthropology is critical in todays medicine because like Lia's case if it had been used the effects of Lia's "grand mal seizure" could have been lessened along with all her other seizures that brought her to the hospital. (Fadiman 1997) The hospital could have used applied medical anthropology by having more interpreters or bilingual nurses that could have made house calls since the Hmong family did not understand English, therefore making it difficult for them to follow the medical regimen. Another way that it could have been used was to simply try and understand their culture and how they interpreted Lia's condition and from there the interactions and treatments could have been successful rather than something that was dreaded.
The video below discusses how understanding the culture and tradition behind a person will allow for better interactions among patient and doctor along with recognizing the importance of anthropology. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aL7aTW5R1s&list=PLSyDi7TIwf-vwQyK_xMc7heN-tLxL2LOr (video 2)
Left image (image 1):The world along with anthropological pictures. http://www.thisisanthropology.org/images/banner_3.2.png
Right image (image 2): The globe with those who live there. http://zingeranthropology.weebly.com/uploads/3/1/8/9/31899923/7822334.gif
Right image (image 2): The globe with those who live there. http://zingeranthropology.weebly.com/uploads/3/1/8/9/31899923/7822334.gif