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  • Essay / Drama Series Grey's Anatomy: The Patient Culture of Hmong Faith

    The debate between religion and science has been a conflict over the centuries and a divisive factor in modern culture. Typically, doctors have difficulty understanding a patient's decision to refuse treatment based on their beliefs and religion, which could potentially end a life-threatening illness. However, in Grey's Anatomy, a popular television series, doctors at Seattle Grace Hospital encounter many patients who require alternative treatments because of their faith. This is evident in the episode "Bring the Pain", where a young Hmong American woman is not allowed to undergo surgery until she finds one of her lost souls, who is believed to be at the origin of the disease. I think the producers did a respectable job of introducing this religious ideology into the show, presenting division but not in a negative light. I also thought the portrait was respectful and tasteful to the rituals, traditions, and cultures of the Hmong faith. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"? Get the original essay The role that religious principles play in the Hmong faith Anna, the young woman in need of spinal surgery, looked like a “typical” Asian American woman. Still, doctors and many viewers were surprised when she had to ask her father for permission to have the operation. He would not allow her to have surgery and planned to take her home that day. Dr. Shepard explained that since she was over 18, she did not need her parents' consent. Anna responds, “I’m Hmong and my father is the eldest. If he says I'm going home, I'm going home. » Even in an emergency situation, the man is the dominant figure in the family. Traditional gender roles in the Hmong religion are very distinct and date back to the time of Confucius. The mother takes care of the children and the home while the man's duty involves family responsibility and caring for the physical and spiritual well-being of his family. The man can consult his wife to make a decision, but he has the last word and the announcement. Doctors immediately insisted on calling social services due to the severity of the tumor and the unethical decision Anna's father was making, according to doctors' opinions. Nonetheless, Meredith Gray felt she was missing some information and sat down with Anna to understand what was allowed and what alternatives could be used. Anna explained: “Our religion has rules that are very old, set in stone and spiritual, you don't tamper with them. We don't make the ancestors angry. » The Hmong people believe in ancestor veneration, the dead have a continuing existence and may possess the ability to influence the fortunes of the living. Loyalty in a Hmong family is one of the most valued virtues because if the ancestors are satisfied, the lives of the living will be positive. In this episode, it's clear that Anna wants to stay true to her traditions and her ancestors, even though it might seem strange to someone who doesn't belong to the religion. One of the beliefs that Anna explained to Meredith was the recall of one of her missing people. souls, that's why her father wouldn't let her have surgery. Meredith quickly explains to Dr. Shepard that there must be a soul calling ceremony, also known as a hu plig, and the operation can then move forward. Anna's family shaman arrives by helicopter in traditional attire and dress and celebrates the..