Social Implications of Medical Issues - Modern and Alternative Medicine - Annotated Bibliography Example

Social Implications of Medical Issues: Modern and Alternative medicine Social Implications of Medical Issues: Modern and Alternative medicine The objective of any medical practice or medicine is to enhance cure for a patient who might be in need of either an emotional or physical healing. The field has evolved over the years through borrowing on various religious beliefs as well as social structures from various societies. The achievement of the goal has been enhanced through exploiting the natural products available in the environment while also receiving a boost from increasingly developing scientific methods. The result has in return led to a situation where individuals feel comfortable while also enjoying better quality life. Despite the pervasiveness as well as promise together with success attributed with modern medicine, majority of human beings across the globe are yet to fully adopt the reliable approach. Some may fail as a result of inadequate resources while others fail due to traditional beliefs and cultures as well as religious attachments. There occurs a challenging issue while dealing with the social aspects within communities while relating the same to modern medicine. It is attributed to the fact that the social conditions emphasize on alternative medicine while the modern medicine provides scientifically proven mechanisms. The alternative medicine is based on social settings but lacks scientific evidence an indication that proof of healing lacks. Social issues therefore, impacts both modern and alternative medicine as there lacks a balance between the two. Giannelli, M., Cuttini, M., Frè, M. D., & Buiatti, E. (2007). General practitioners knowledge and practice of complementary/alternative medicine and its relationship with life-styles: a population-based survey in Italy. BMC Family Practice. doi:10.1186/1471-2296-8-30 In the article, the authors focus on how the current practitioners are examining alternative medicine across the population to derive an understanding as to how it relates with lifestyles of different individuals. The study identifies that there is a significant rise among the developed nations with Italy the country under study where majority are searching for alternative medicine (Giannelli, et al, 2007). The study reveals that the notion results from a widely held perception that the modern lifestyles are exposing human beings to higher risks of infections. Consequently, modern medicine is perceived as failing to cure diseases and thus the need to focus on alternative means for some diseases. The journal article is essential for the research as it helps in examining those diseases that the current generation believes will receive healing from alternative medicine. A focus on whether that alternative means works is also provided. Driver, B. L. (2011). Nature and the human spirit: Toward an expanded land management ethic. State College, PA: Venture Pub. The work by Driver, (2011) explores how nature affects human spirit in every aspect of life that includes the medical field. The author reveals how some cultural practices are based on nature that as a result revolves around everything that those who adhere to these cultural practices. The article is essential for the research as it provides a basis of relating cultural practice and medicine choice for communities. MacDonald, T. H. (2003). The social significance of health promotion. London: Routledge. McDonald, (2013) on the other hand examines how health promotion has affected individuals in various spheres of life. The medical field has achieved significant developments over a number of decades leading to changes from the traditional practices that possessed little or no guarantee of survival to the modern practices that provides practitioners and patients with almost a full guarantee of survival (MacDonald, 2003). The article helps in providing an understanding of how the social aspect has responded as a result of health promotion. Shils, M. E., & Shike, M. (2006). Modern nutrition in health and disease. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. A lot of talk has emerged over the effects of modern nutrition and the impact on body health with comparisons being drawn across current nutrition and nutrition-related health issues and traditional nutrition and traditional-related health issues (Shils and Shike, 2006). The current eating habits are attributed to cause health challenges with diabetes a major concern resulting from consumption of junk food products. The issue is equally related to deviations from modern medicine into alternative medicine. The article is therefore important for the research as it helps in determining whether medicine choice relates fully with nutrition. Parker, M., & Dickenson, D. (2001). The Cambridge medical ethics workbook: Case studies, commentaries and activities. New York: Cambridge University Press. Irrespective of the challenges or choices of medicine choices, medical practitioners hold an obligation of ensuring the patient receives the best medical attention. However, cultural practices and religious beliefs act as hindrance to achievement of the goal in some situations. Medical practitioners possess a role of adhering to the best practice whenever such a collision occurs (Parker and Dickenson, 2001). The medical ethics provide guidelines for medical practitioners and health workers to serve as guidance especially where such social issue arises. In the study, a social issue arises where the patient wants to put an end to modern treatment and embark on alternative means. Considering the type of illness and the family medical challenges, medical practitioners will need to focus on medical ethics for guidance. The article is thus essential as it provides the medical ethics that need observance and under different scenarios. Ella’s Case From Ella’s case scenario, it is understandable that her family and especially her husband believes on traditional curative practices, not only for ensuring better health but also as a means of banishing bad spirits from the home. It therefore signifies that there exists a challenge in convincing Ella and her family to continue with modern medicine while she and her husband has already given their will. Since Ella is mature and mentally fit, consent to treatment should come from her although consideration and incorporation of family members is essential since she needs their help. As Ella’s life almost comes to an end from a breast cancer illness, serious considerations are essential in providing her with the best care during her last days. The period she is currently undergoing is painful and stressing an indication that utmost care will prove essential. The decision of the patient to leave the hospital occurs from her fear of discord that she has caused her family members. Although she is wishing to stick with alternative as well as complementary practices, she is coerced into taking mainstream medical advice despite her current weak condition. Despite her husband insisting on adhering to the family traditions, the other challenges within the family needs to be equally considered as they also affects Ella’s health. Biological Basis of Care The biological basis of care for the family members should relate on each case differently since the family members are suffering different challenges. Considering Sam, the son to Ella the alcoholic, he would require rehabilitation program to help him to resume to normal, a situation that will impact other family members psychologically since he is jobless. He will therefore require financial assistance. Lila, the Diabetic daughter can made outpatients visits to the hospital although there lacks anyone to take care of her at home. She will therefore require the support of others when her condition worsens. Grandson Josh will also require rehab facilities to stabilize his brains and economic resources will stress the other family members. Lucy the granddaughter, suffering from a bipolar and a drug problem would require full time care unit that will again strain the others financially. Sarahs stress management will require a counselor to help her stabilize. Micro, Mezzo and Macro Issues Ella medical condition as well as prognosis is affecting her and the other family members in a significant way. It is attributed to the other illness challenges suffered by other family members where huge medical costs for modern treatment are required. Consequently, the alternative treatments seems to deprive the family their health therefore might lead to a family conflict since like the grandfather insists on following the tradition and Ella is coerced to change the practice. Another area of conflict may result from providing care to all the sick family members while at home. The neighborhood as well as extended family may be unwilling to assist the family as the burden is too much considering all the patients within the family. On the macro level, there seem some better forms of coping with the challenges of the family although they are still inadequate. The healthcare present will not effectively cater for the challenges of the family as much care is needed. The social workers will provide care services to all the patients although more facilities like care homes will have served better in providing full care to some of the patients. The discharge of Ella should therefore occur where the patient is assigned to the community social workers tasked with her care since the family member will not mange to take care of her situation. Taking care of the patient in the hospital is effective as evidenced by advantages related not only related to the choice, but also for the role played by hospitals. First, a hospital provides a good atmosphere with medical practitioners available to monitor the situation. Secondly, disturbance and stress is reduced in hospital care. Lastly, care is provided without bias. The only disadvantage relates to costs associated with hospital charges especially with chronic diseases. It is important to note that the family is suffering a challenging aspect that not only results in diseases, but one that will also affect the mental development of the affected members of the family. These result from traditional perceptions and existing challenges within the societal setting. Conclusion Balancing between modern medicine and alternative treatment is a challenging aspect. It results from the fact that those contending with alternative treatments focus on adhering to traditional practices and beliefs. Where the illness is chronic, the situation becomes very challenging to cope with using alternative treatment. The challenge in the long-run affects both the family, extended family as well as the community as both are involved with the issue. While there exists significant social issues while dealing with modern or alternative medicine, there is need to strike a balance between these two approaches to ensure arriving at the best practice. References Cruz-Cunha, M. M., Tavares, A. J., Simoes, R. J., & IGI Global. (2010). Handbook of research on developments in e-health and telemedicine: Technological and social perspectives. Hershey, PA: IGI Global (701 E. Chocolate Avenue, Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033, USA. Driver, B. L. (2011). Nature and the human spirit: Toward an expanded land management ethic. State College, PA: Venture Pub. Giannelli, M., Cuttini, M., Frè, M. D., & Buiatti, E. (2007). General practitioners knowledge and practice of complementary/alternative medicine and its relationship with life-styles: a population-based survey in Italy. BMC Family Practice. doi:10.1186/1471-2296-8-30 MacDonald, T. H. (2003). The social significance of health promotion. London: Routledge. Parker, M., & Dickenson, D. (2001). The Cambridge medical ethics workbook: Case studies, commentaries and activities. New York: Cambridge University Press. Shils, M. E., & Shike, M. (2006). Modern nutrition in health and disease. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Read More