Religious Freedom and Removing Barriers Essay

C.

One of the most interesting cultural groups in America is the Amish. The Amish have a strong cultural belief in both folk medicine and faith healing, both of which may impact the decision to access modern medical providers and might actually conflict with prescribed medical treatments. However, their traditional healing methods are very successful for minor ailments. Moreover, there is nothing in their religious or cultural practices that prohibits them from seeking "modern" medical treatments when it is absolutely necessary. However, their definitions of what would be absolutely necessary are probably more stringent than those in mainstream culture. The reasoning behind this is not a fear of modern medicine itself, but based on the cultural tradition that they avoid the world. However, another reason that many Amish may avoid modern medical treatments is based in more practical concerns; Amish prohibitions against interacting with the outside world mean that most of them do not have health insurance and the high cost of health care prevents many of them from accessing that care. Amish patients may also have difficulty accessing modern medicine because of the inability to operate motorized machinery.Most of the Amish concerns about accessing modern medical care could be adequately addressed by a nurse working in a nurse practitioner capacity. Nurses in this capacity could go into the neighborhood to provide services, limiting exposure to the outside world. They traditionally provide services at lower costs than doctors. Furthermore, a traveling nurse would reduce or remove the need for patients to travel to health facilities to receive modern health care.

D.

From the assignment, I learned that I need to consider the spiritual needs of patients, particularly when they differ from the spiritual needs of the mainstream community, because of the importance of spirituality in the healing process.

References

Hmong shamans help at Valley hospitals. (2009, November 10). Retrieved March 5, 2012 from Fresno Bee website: http://www.fresnobee.com/2009/10/10/1669868/hmong-shamans-help-at-valley-hospitals.html

Robinson, B.A. (2005). The Amish: History, belief, practices, conflicts, etc. Retrieved March

6, 2012 from Religious Tolerance website: http://www.religioustolerance.org/amish.htm.....