It would never have occurred to them to emulate Luis Estevez, a pediatrician at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx, who has referred Puerto Rican and Dominican patients to a Santeria high priest as he might refer them to an opthalmologist, or Yasmin Collazo, a psychiatrist at Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens, who has allowed a Mexican curandero, or folk healer, to perform a cleansing ceremony in the hospital for a schizophrenic patient. Dr. Collazo said that after the visit, the patient was far more compliant in taking her antipsychotic medications, which she believed the curandero had sanctified.
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In "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down," Anne Fadiman illustrates the cultural challenges in healthcare by highlighting examples from the Bronx and Queens. Pediatrician Luis Estevez successfully integrates Santeria spiritual practices into his medical referrals for Puerto Rican and Dominican patients, while psychiatrist Yasmin Collazo facilitates traditional healing by allowing a curandero to perform a ceremony for a schizophrenic patient. This indicates a unique approach to medicine that respects and incorporates cultural beliefs.

Dr. Collazo observed that the patient's cooperation with her antipsychotic treatment improved significantly after the curandero's cleansing ritual. This suggests that combining traditional and modern medical practices can enhance treatment outcomes by addressing patients' cultural contexts. Fadiman’s work emphasizes the importance of understanding the intersection of cultural beliefs and medical practices to provide effective healthcare.

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April 05, 2025

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