Shamanism and Healthcare Choices

According to statistic, 70% of the hmong on the US still practice shamanism. This has generated numerous cases concerning hospital treatment and healthcare. A quote from an interviewer,

“I wish for more study. I hope some day shamans and doctors can work together to tackle patients’ problems. Shamans and doctors have much knowledge and wisdom to offer to each other. They can learn from each other's techniques and use some skills to assist patients better.”

If this is allowed for hmong people then what about other people like Laos and Thai? This will open the door for anybody that wants to practice his or her belief. What about liability issue? Can they be sued like any doctor or lawyer?

California and Minnesota are doing numerous researches on this healthcare issue. What are you thoughts on it and why you see it that way?

If hmong people start suing other hmong people because of a bad shamanism performance then they are fu-ken retarded dude................the people shouldnt be able to sue a shaman because its not the shaman thats seeking the person its the person seeking the shaman to spirtual heal the person. If shaman people started to get sued i'm pretty sure there wouldnt be anymore shamans around or welling to use their ability and to help people...................plus we shouldnt reallie let a lot of people into the practice of shamanism because skepticism my grow and led to hating and religious conflict.............

that's freaken right!!!

they better start studying that!!!!! shoot!!

my nephew was in the hospital for 2 weeks. he was only 3 months old.
and them freaken nurses, may i say training nurses that needs 10 more years of training, were sticking hella needles in him.

they were so rude.

and im not being so traditional about western meds but i do believe in the shaman ways more.
so.... when the doctor wanted to stick a whatever they call it to get pee from his bladder.... they just freaken did it.

they were like... 'oh, we totally understand about hmong people... blah blah' but.... from what my dad tells me, he says that that can affect the spirit which can affect his mental state in the future thus making him mentally challenged.

of course i took this seriously but at the same time, trie to cooperate with the doctors to ensure my nephew's health. the nurses were darn rude...... they need ten thousand culture classes! sh!t heads.

anyways... it'll be good for hospitals to be informed of all kind of cultural belief and all.

I think there needs to be a balance between the medical profession and the cultural beliefs. Where these two factors meet, I don't know. Personally speaking, I lean more towards the medical practice. I think those individuals who practice and believe in Shamanisitic rituals are healed because of a placebo effect, not neccessarily because something extradordinary happened. But, if it works then it works. Similair things happen in the medical profession.

I just think there are some disorders and illnesses that can't possible be healed through traditional methods. I'm not dismissing traditional healings but I think traditional methods have their time and place, such as possession, which most westerners are not believers in.

Just my thoughts.

Cheers!!!

Why are you tripping? Lets not forget who seeks for help first. Once you have check in, the hospital has a responsibility. If you don't want any of that then don't go to the hospital instead go straight to the shaman. You're not a doctor or a nurse so how could you know what they are doing? Come on here, be a little bit more realistic here. If you don't like their service then don't go. It's just that simple.

its risky going to the hospital if at all possible cure yourself at home since we're of a different race too(unless you can afford a good hospital?) many years ago my uncle almost got killed by those pathetic doctors saying he's going to die at this time and that time if we dont leave him at the hospital but of course my dad suspicous of them took my uncle home and guess what? that predicted time passed and my uncles gotten better, too many of our hmong people got killed by those doctor my fellow hmong, dont look up to those creature unless they're hmong or atleast asian

You're being stereotype. I can tell you numerous stories about hmong people end up dead by not going to the hospital. Just remember the once you've checked in, the hospital has a responsibility. They are liable for everything. They are going to cover all their bases and leave no rocks unturn.

If what you say are true then can tell me why there are so many hospitals? Hospital can do a lot for you that you can do it for yourself. Use your own judgement.

like i mentioned above my dad took my uncle home having to argued with those doctore guarantee my uncle will not live(which that time he didnt have any kids but have more than two kids now ) and even going to call the cops on my dad but he's got a great proof if the cops did came they showed my uncles low conscious wave on the monitor to my dad which he also forces one of the doctors to test out his/her conscous which runs the same level , theres numerous story of Hmong ends their lives at the hospital even happens to several of my relative course my dad wouldnt let it happen if he was there nor encourage them to go to the hospital if he would've known earlier, i have to say my dad is actually a hero for that i'm proud for him.

didnt i mentioned above that unless you can afford a hospital that took full responsibility? which the majority of us Hmong cant, what happen if you cant is if those doctor finds out your lung, heart, eyes whatever it is that still functiion well and healthy they'll lied to your family that you have cancer needs a surgery this n that the next thing you know your person is dead saying they cant help your person but what really happen is they took that desire part of the body and replace it for those wealthy people with heart cancer or other illness who's waiting in line for that healthy part, is it really true? yes told by a rich hmong family themself cant remember how many years ago who happen to pay a high price for a heart from a low/working class(like majority of us Hmong) african/american guy. stereotype? for caring about my Hmong people? its not my intention to prove it in here but its your choice whether to believe or not, but please do bare in mind there are racism out there.

a good shaman will only accept some money from you if they have healed you (which they can tell after they are done ua neeb). altho most take the money even tho they didn't do everything for you when they ua neeb.

one more thing, in most cases i think it'll be hard to sue shamans because where is the proof of the person being ill before and ill or not ill aftwards. for example, you don't sue the docter for giving you something that didn't heal your flu righ away. lawsuits involving hospitals and docters usually involves something that can be physically seen and/or death of a patient. most or all shamans heals the person spirit which will heal the persons body. maybe there could be a lawsuit against a shaman if that shaman gave some kind of medicine to the sick person which caused him to die.

hopefully what i said made sense.