Topic > Drama Series Grey's Anatomy: The Patient Culture of the Hmong Faith

The debate between religion and science has been a conflict for centuries and a divisive factor in modern culture. Typically, doctors have difficulty understanding a patient's decision to deny treatment due to their beliefs and religion, which could potentially end a life-threatening illness. However, in Grey's Anatomy, a popular television series, the doctors at Seattle Grace Hospital encounter many patients who need alternative treatments due to their faith. This is evident in the episode "Bring the Pain", in which a young Hmong American woman is not allowed to undergo surgery until she finds one of her lost souls, which is said to have caused the disease. I think the producers did a respectable job of introducing this religious ideology into the series, presenting divisiveness but not in a negative light. I also thought the portrayal was respectful and tasteful of the rituals, traditions and cultures of the Hmong faith. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayThe Role of Religious Principles in the Hmong Faith Anna, the young woman in need of spinal surgery, seemed like a “typical” Asian-American woman. However, she took doctors and many viewers by surprise when she had to ask her father for permission to undergo the surgery. He would not allow her to have the surgery and had planned to take her home that day. Dr Shepard explained that because he was over 18 he did not need his 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 times of Confucius. The mother is the nurturer of the children and the home, while the man's duty involves family responsibility and providing for the physical and spiritual well-being of his family. The man can consult his wife to decide, but he has the final say and the announcement. The doctors immediately insisted on calling social services due to the severity of the tumor and the unethical decision that Anna's father was making, in the opinion of the doctors. Nonetheless, Meredith Gray felt she was missing information and sat down with Anna to understand what was allowed and what alternatives could be used. Anna explained: “Our religion has very ancient rules, carved in stone and very spiritual, you don't mess with them. Don't make the ancestors angry. "The Hmong people believe in the veneration of ancestors, the dead have a continuous existence and may possess the ability to influence the fortunes of the living. Loyalty in a Hmong family is one of the most prized virtues because if the ancestors are satisfied, life of the living will be positive. In this episode, it is clear that Anna wants to remain faithful to her traditions and her ancestors, even if it might seem strange to someone who is not part of the religion. One of the beliefs that Anna explained to Meredith was the recall of one of her soul losses, which is why her father wouldn't let her have surgery. Meredith quickly explains to Dr. Shepard that a soul calling ceremony, also known as a hu plig, is necessary, and then l The surgery will be able to go ahead. Anna's family shaman arrives by helicopter in traditional robes and robes and performs the ceremony in the hospital room. Anna turns to Meredith before the start and says: “I know it sounds bullshit but look the ritual,.