The Scalpel and Silver Bear Essay Example

The primary theme in The Scalpel and Silver Bear is the reunification of American and Navajo medicine. The title itself alludes to the subject of the book. 'The Scalpel' represents American medicine where the scalpel is one of the main tools used for operations. On the other hand, the 'Silver Bear' is a symbol of strength and protection among the Navajo culture which is part of the author's culture. Dr. Lori Arviso Alvord wrote the book as an autobiography about her life's experiences as she tried to unite her heritage. Dr. Alvord grew up in a Navajo reservation in New Mexico. Born from a Navajo father and a white, blonde woman, she was always torn between two worlds. Her father had the usual struggles of Navajo men such as alcoholism. When she joined college, she found herself isolated because she was unable to identify herself as either a white American woman or Navajo woman. Moreover, her medical training proved to be a challenge because it went against the cultural practices of the Navajo people. As a grown-up, and a qualified doctor, Dr. Alvord is trying to unite western medicine and the wisdom of Navajo cultural traditions to improve medical practice in America and help her community.

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Dr. Alvord assesses that the Navajo philosophy of the harmony of all things could be used to improve the health of her patients that include the Navajo people. I agree with her assessment. Despite the progress that western medicine brought to the world, it has had its fair share of shortcomings. Some diseases such as malaria, influenza, and cancer still pose a challenge to humans. The introduction of western medicine to Indian reservations did little to help the Navajo people. The western practices were unorthodox, and some practices violated the traditional Indian methods. The Navajo concept of 'the beauty way' means to be in balance with the world. According to the Navajo people, for one to achieve happiness, health, and wisdom they have to find a balance between the physical and the spiritual self. Western medicine considered the concept as just another superstition by a culture that is backward. However, Dr. Alvord has had experiences that prove the idea applies even to modern medicine. For example, while treating a cancer patient in a medical center in Gallup, she realized the power of a song in aiding the healing process. A hataali who is a medicine man for the Navajo people came into the medical center and performed a chanting ceremony to one of her patients that was undergoing chemotherapy. Miraculously, the patient started to recover only after the medicine man had sung at his bedside. The Navajo practices had provided the patient with something that western medicine had failed to do, and that is hope. Unlike other doctors, Dr. Alvord is not trying to determine which method of practice is superior. Proponents of western medicine have been quick to dismiss the role of traditional medical practices in providing cure to the community. For millennia, societies around the world depended on conventional medicine. The use of spiritual methods along with chemical or herbal techniques kept communities thriving. There has to be a certain degree of productivity associated with such techniques that kept the communities dependent on them for such a long time. I, therefore, think it is time for western medicine to include traditional medical practices as a way of filling in the gaps that exist within the modern medical practice.

To some good measure, I can identify with the situations and perspectives that the author has presented. The author gives a situation where she had to make a very decisive decision about her life and that of her people. I have had cases where I was at a conflict between my background and my ambitions. While going to college, I had chosen between staying behind and helping my family through the difficult moment or packing my belongings and going to campus to pursue my career. When I left them in that situation, I felt like I had abandoned them. I still want to return and work close to home when I complete my course. The same applies to Dr. Alvord. She left her hometown that was experiencing several medical and social issues. Her studies at the prestigious Stanford University did little to alleviate her feelings of forsaking her heritage because they forced her to go against the culture of her people. She describes an incidence where she was dissecting a cadaver, and that goes against the Navajo cultural practices. Navajo culture forbids anyone from touching a dead body. What made the situation worse is that she wasn't doing it to help her community but rather to become 'the white man's doctor.' That is why Dr. Alvord decided to return to her hometown to help the members of her community using techniques from both American and Navajo culture.

While reading the book, I realized that my opinion on western medicine was a bit flawed. My opinion on western medical practice changed. I realized western medicine could use some insight from traditional medical practice. The patients have lost their human aspect. Western medical practice views and treats patients as objects made up of flesh, blood, and bones. The spiritual and emotional aspect of medical care is absent. Dr. Alvord believes that medical practice should include emotional treatment which is what Navajo medical practice provides. Rather than just concentrating on physical practice, doctors should consider the patient's personal opinions and practice. I believe that medical practice should try and weave the treatment process around the patients' personality and character rather than applying the one size fits all technique. Every person is unique to his or her beliefs and culture. I believe that is what creates the different responses to various treatment methods. For example, cancer treatment methods have yielded mixed results even for patients with the same type of cancer and similar treatment period. The doctors should hold the spiritual or emotional aspect of their patients in high regard. The perceptions of Dr. Alvord are parallel to those of another scholar, Puchalski (2001). According to Puchalski(2001), advances in the past century have created a shift in medicine from service and care-oriented model to technology, cure-oriented model. The change in the focus of medicine has caused doctors to neglect the service they gave their patients which I think is what Dr. Alvord is trying to bring back. Her patient care that incorporates Navajo cultural practices considers the traditions and personal preferences of her patients while still using the technology provided by western medicine.

Some of the surprising things about the book are the details it reveals about the rate of alcoholism among the Navajo people. The situation has been made worse by the years of discrimination and low quality of life of the Navajo people. As a minority group, the Navajo communities are not getting the same treatment as the other groups. Dr. Alvord described an incident when the teachers punished her parents because they spoke Navajo at school. The teachers told them that their culture and traditions were inferior and they could never match up to those of the white man. Between two to three Navajo generations were taught to be ashamed of their culture. Parents were discouraged from teaching their children about Navajo culture and traditions (p. 84). These acts of discrimination destroyed her father who wanted to be successful but could not access the resources of his white classmates. He resorted to alcoholism. Dr. Alvord also became a victim of such actions. At school, she tried to align herself with the white culture while abandoning her heritage. These are things which are not known to many people. We live in a country that is supposed to treat all its citizens equally. But when such mistreatments extend to basic needs such as the provision of healthcare, the matter becomes a matter of national concern. The government needs to recognize the plight of the Navajo people and create tailor-made solutions for their problems. Dr. Alvord has mentioned alcoholism as among the most significant source of death among her people. According to Dr. Navajo, 60% of all the deaths among the Navajo people are alcohol-related. That has to be one of the highest alcohol-related death rates in the country. But the authorities remain silent no one is doing anything about it. Such figures are surprising and unheard of. Relevant authorities need to find ways to address the situation.

Conclusion

Dr. Alvord tries to reconcile the western and the Navajo approach to medicine. She assesses that the Navajo principles of spirituality can be used in tandem with modern medical techniques to create better solutions to patients. According to The Scalpel and the Silver Bear, no culture is superior since both cultures have something to offer to medical practice. The author was torn in between different decisions. She could choose to abandon her people and adopt the white lifestyle or stick around and help her people. That is a situation that I can relate to because of my experience. The book changed my opinion regarding modern medicine. It made me realize that modern medicine could use some insight from Navajo medical practices which focus on spirituality. The book also revealed some surprising details about the healthcare of the Navajo people. I was surprised by the level of alcoholism among the Navajo and how their marginalization has influenced their welfare.

References

Puchalski, C. M. (2001, October). The role of spirituality in health care. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent), 14(4), 352-357. Retrieved November 15, 2018, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1305900/