Summary #2

Coward and Ratanakul talk about how each culture has different practices to preserve. The authors express as well that each culture has its own point of view about health issues. The writers add that a well lead discussion, about medical approaches to maintain health, is best when lead by impartial professionals on the subject. (p.48, 1999)

There is a point of view for health that views it like a whole and there is another perspective that views it individually. According to Ratanakul and Coward (1999), western medicine proposes health as a responsibility of the individual. On the other hand, as explained by Ratanakul and Coward, health can be viewed as a whole. When it is viewed as a whole it means that it is directly related to the family and social interaction. (1999, p.53)

Coward and Ratanakul explain that investigations realized by Robert Evans in 1994, showed the high relation between economical status and number of deaths. This data, as indicated by the writers, makes evident the influence that economical well being has in health. They explained that stressful situations have an important effect on the quality of a person´s health. (p.63, 1999)

The authors, Ratanakul and Coward (1999), agree that there are many factors that affect health care. They expect that the dialogue between cultures addressed by this book will help conduct research in points of interest like poverty, ethics, and racism, among others. (p.66)




Vocabulary
1. Argumentative: contrary, captious, antagonistic.
The argumentative essay helped us understand better the topic.

2. Approach: come to, advance, move nearer, make a proposal.
The approach of the critic was kind of rude.

3. Boundary: borderline, cutline.
The boundary was not enough to stop them from invading.

4. Broaden: enlarge, extend, widen.
I wanted to study in another country to broaden my global perspective.

5. Deliberately: on purpose, willfully.
He deliberately accused her of stealing.

6. Facility: resource, service-centre, place.
The facility was closed for the holidays.

7. Idyllic: wonderful, happy, ideal.
I read in that book the idyllic ending for a story.

8. Literal: factual, plain, simple, exact.
The story´s message was very literal.

9. Pace: rate, velocity.
He walks at a slow pace.

10. Pertinent: relevant.
The discussion was pertinent to the situation.

11. Reciprocal: common, shared, joint.
The feeling between them was reciprocal.

12. Sporadic: infrequent, irregular.
The baseball games have been sporadic.

13. Undergo: experience, undertake.
I had to undergo difficult times to get over the accident.

14. Vital: essence, critical.
His vital signs were good.

15. Widespread: extensive, universal:
The news widespread really fast.

Responding to other students´ reading tasks

Ryan explained very clearly his subject. He talked about financial aspects. Even though I find that subject boring, Ryan made it very easy to understand. He talked about financial account and manager account and how every company needs specific accounting. He looked well prepared and familiarized with the topic.

Rie talked about organ donation. She was clearly supporting the author´s point of view. She said she believed in having every person know in advance wether their organs are going to used for donation or not. For her it was sad that someone had to die so another personas has an organ for transplant surgery.

Trem talked about interior design. She explained the importance of choosing the right colors and decoration to make any room or place confortable. She agreed with the author about choosing the right colors according to the function of the place you are decorating. She explained herself clearly.

Stress was a topic that was also discussed. July explained that we shouldn´t stress. She explained that she agreed with the author about the existence of psychological and physical stress. Body, brain, body and hormones. She agrees with the author that we should manage stress.

Wen discussed the extinction of some species. She talked about the different eras when massive extinctin has taken place. Really interesting topic and was well pretended by her.

Non-fiction book summary.

Summary and Vocabulary Ariadna Cruz Flores
“A Cross-Cultural Dialogue on Health Care Ethics” July 15, 2007.




According to Harold Coward and Pinit Ratanakul, 1999 in “A Cross-Cultural Dialogue on Health Care Ethics”, the biomedical approach of medicine sometimes fails to meet the expectations of its patients. This makes patients seek for alternatives to improve their health condition. Those alternatives are often found in traditional medicine. (H. Coward and P. Ratanakul, 1999)
H. Coward and P. Ratanakul (1999) added that traditional medicine is offered often in over the counter products. Easy access to all types of herbology mixtures has caused numerous disputes with the Food and Drugs Administration. These disputes have been held do to the FDA´s concern in possible harmful effects if there´s no prescription for these products. (H. Coward and P. Ratanakul, 1999)

Further investigations realized by Coward and Ratanakul (1999) suggest reported toxic content in many of the traditional medicine products. Chinese and Thai herbologists refuted these statements by explaining that their products are made of mixtures of many different herbs. Those mixtures counterbalance the toxic substances, so there´s no harm for the patient. (H. Coward and P. Ratanakul, 1999)

Even though alternative medicine can be as effective as western medicine, there´s little chance it will be accepted due to western pharmaceutical´s monopoly. (H. Coward and P. Ratanakul, 1999)

In addition to that, Coward and Ratanakul (1999) discuss the huge impact herbology has on the ecosystem. The high demands of products like Ginseng extract or tablets, to give an example, are making this and many other types of plants become scarce or endangered. (H. Coward and P. Ratanakul, 1999)

An option to this arising situation, as suggested by Howard Coward and Pinit Ratanakul (1999), can be partly compensated by cultivation of the species that has been exploited. Still, in many cases the environmental damage done can´t be replaced at the same pace as the demand of the plant species undergoing that situation. (H. Coward and P. Ratanakul, 1999)

Howard and Ratanakul, 1999, sum up by explaining that immigrants from all around the world, in almost every country, have widespread the use of alternative medicine. The demand of these products will probably continue to rise. Unfortunately, until now, there´s little chance herbology products will be legalized and sold as chemical pharmaceutical products. H. Coward and Ratanakul, 1999, state that the reason for these is there is little scientific evidence that supports the efficacy of these products. So according to Coward and Ratanakul, 1999, people will probably use herbology along with prescription medication, but not as a primary source of medical treatment.

Reference: H. Coward & P. Ratanakul (1999) "A Cross-Cultural Dialogue on Health Care Ethics" Wilfried Laurer University Press. Ontario, Canada. Pages: 226-254.

• Vocabulary
  
  
  1. Commissioned: when something has been delegated.
  The organization of the event has been commissioned to the newest employees.
  2. Acute: sharp, good.
  My dog has an acute sense of smell.
  3. Compatible: well-matched, light-minded.
  That program is compatible with my computer.
  4. Exploit: capitalize on.
  They are going to exploit the land to expand their business.
  5. Monopolize: control, take over.
  Starbucks has monopolized the coffee business.
  6. Revivalism: the act of revitalizing.
  The revivalism of the forest benefited the species that lived in it.
  7. Vivid: evocative, realistic.
  The colors in the painting were so vivid.
  8. Mainstream: conventional, ordinary.
  The music they played at the club was mainstream.
  9. Flawed: inadequate, not perfect.
  I flawed the surprise party we had planned.
  10. Supplements: extras, addition.
  I forgot to take my vitamin supplements.
  11. Pursue: run after, chase.
  I will purse my goals with conviction.
  12. Crop: yield, fruits.
  The crop was better than we expected.
  13. Grazing: brushing, skimming.
  He was grazing the wooden sculpture with a brush.
  14. Clearings: empty, leave.
  The shop´s clearings usually offer great discounts.
  15. Indiscriminate: unselective, uncritical.
  The admission to the contest was indiscriminate.
  
  
  

My name is Ariadna. I was born in Monterrey, Mexico. I'm 21 years old. I'll be 22 on July 17th. So I'm really looking forward to celebrate my birthday in another country, I've never done that before.
I'm the oldest of three siblings.
My favorite food is Italian. My favorite color is yellow. My favorite movies are Home Alone 1 and 2. The best season for me is summer and I love traveling to beach resorts.
I have a yellow lab named Jacko. He's 6 years old and I really miss him!

Hopefully by December I'll graduate on Psychology at UDEM. It's the university where I study in Monterrey.

So far I'm really liking Toronto. There's lots of things to do!