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Assignment:
Complete the following:
German case study
Irish case study
GERMAN CASE STUDY
Margaret Schmidt, a terminally ill 60-year-old American of German descent, was
recently admitted to a hospice service and is
receiving care at home. Diagnosed with
metastatic breast cancer, Margaret’s prognosis
is less than 6 months. Margaret’s cancer
has metastasized to her ribs and liver and
often causes intense pa
in. Although Margaret
speaks freely of her impending death, her family
has expressed their discomfort at her
decision to secure hospice care.
Over the last 10 years, Margaret, a nurs
e, has practiced homeopathy (for herself
and others) and consults frequently with a
medical intuitionist. She follows the medical
intuitionist’s recommendations to attenuate
her symptoms but avoids, when she can, the
traditional cancer pain
–management therapies.
Medical staff and her family have entere
d into continuous discussions with her
about her lack of acceptance of traditiona
l medical approaches. Margaret remains
unconvinced of their value within her scheme
of care. Margaret main
tains a strong belief
in an afterlife, believing that
she will be reunited with
her husband. Margaret meditates
daily, calling upon her spiritual guides and angels for strength and peace in the dying
process. She often asks those around
her to join her during this time.
Study Questions
1.
What experiences have you had with patients of German descent?
2.
How does Margaret’s German ancest
ry mold her beliefs about medical
treatment?
3.
What Western medicine concepts
complicate the staff and family’s
understanding of Margaret’s self
-prescribed medical regimen?
4.
How do you, as a health-care prof
essional, feel about the use of
homeopathic remedies?
5.
What is your view of the use of
medical intuitionists and other non-
Western health practices?
6.
How do Margaret’s health-care c
hoices differ or match your own?
7.
How do you deal with cultural health practices unlike your own?
8.
Discuss Margaret’s desire to contro
l her life even through terminal illness.
9.
Relate Margaret’s strong spiritual beli
efs in an afterlife to her ability to
cope with her impending death.
10.
Describe a plan of care that is cultu
rally sensitive to the patient and her
family.
11.
How can your knowledge of the German American culture positively
influence health outcomes for Margaret?
12.
Discuss the cultural filters you may
use as you assist Margaret in her
health-care decisions.
13.
Describe the enculturation you, as
a health-care professional, have
experienced and how this influences
your own health-care decisions.
RISH CASE STUDY
The O’Rourke family lives on a small farm in Iowa and comprises David, aged 30; his
wife, Mary, aged 29; and two children: Bridge
t, aged 7, and Michael, aged 6. Both David
and Mary are second-generation Irish. Before
