Advocacy and Its Role in Cultural Diversity

Question 1 

Female genital mutilation is a common practice in most African countries, and it is considered illegal in some. As a nurse on an exchange medical program, some of the ethical dilemmas faced by medical professionals are FGM related to Africa. When working, at one point studying the cultures of people there was essential to brace myself on how to handle patients from different cultures. On one instance there as a nurse, a patient sort medical attention after being mutilated and almost bleed to death. However, a physician must report such offenses since it is considered illegal to practice FGM ( Muthumbi et al. 2015) . However, contacting the authorities or the relevant bodies would infringe on the beliefs and practices of the patient. Based on her cultural beliefs, female circumcision is a rite of passage that indicates that one is mature, and for some, it is a way to ensure morality. Others believe that it reduces sexual urges in females. As a nurse who underwent cultural competence training, it is hard to come up with a solution that respected both the cultures and government laws. After a thorough consideration, contacting the relevant bodies to deal with the situation was my only option legally after administering medical assistance to the patient. 

Question 2 

Female genital mutilation is considered illegal, but some cultures still practice it. Based on the patient’s situation, her culture believes that mutilation helps girls focus on essential goals in life other than sexual urges ( Odukogbe et al. 2017 ). Also, she believes that FGM helps her grow in a morally upright manner, it is a rite of passage, and it prevents her from being referred to as an outcast. However, those against it believe that circumcision has long term effects on the health of the victim, and it is a violation of human rights. According to the patient, all she needed was to stop the bleeding and go back to her community without raising any alarm on her situation. However, as a medical practitioner, my supervisor advised that relevant bodies should be contacted to deal with the medical situation. Bodies that address such situations believed that those responsible for the patient's mutilation should be reported to the authorities and sentenced in a court of law. 

Question 3 

In this case, the conflicting moral values were that female circumcision is a rite of passage on one side while it is illegal and caused health defects on the other hand. Besides, on one side, culture believes that FGM is morally ethical, while others believe that FGM is inappropriate and is an infringement on the rights of women ( Cappon et al. 2015) . After careful consideration, the conclusion was that even though the patients’ culture should be respected and their values upheld, any practice that possess health dangers cannot be supported. 

Question 4 

The patient believes that even though FGM is illegal, it is a practice she grew up respecting, and something passed down in her community. To my knowledge, such practices are not something practiced in my community, or even my country of origin ( Relph et al. 2013) . However, it is essential to note that even though respecting the patient’s cultural beliefs and wellbeing was the ethical obligation, respecting the law and also equality is fundamental. Ethically patients need come first, but professionally health treatment for the wellbeing of the patient is essential and should be prioritized even if it caused unintended harm. 

Question 5 

Culturally congruent care takes place when a physician and a patient’s levels fit well together. Besides, it is a process in which health care providers and patients agree on standard terms between what the family wants, and the professional practice material culture believes. 

References 

Cappon, S., L’Ecluse, C., Clays, E., Tency, I., & Leye, E. (2015). Female genital mutilation: knowledge, attitude and practices of Flemish midwives.  Midwifery ,  31 (3), e29-e35. 

Muthumbi, J., Svanemyr, J., Scolaro, E., Temmerman, M., & Say, L. (2015). Female genital mutilation: a literature review of the current status of legislation and policies in 27 African countries and Yemen.  African journal of reproductive health ,  19 (3), 32-40. 

Odukogbe, A. T. A., Afolabi, B. B., Bello, O. O., & Adeyanju, A. S. (2017). Female genital mutilation/cutting in Africa.  Translational andrology and urology ,  6 (2), 138. 

Relph, S., Inamdar, R., Singh, H., & Yoong, W. (2013). Female genital mutilation/cutting: knowledge, attitude and training of health professionals in inner city London.  European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology ,  168 (2), 195-198.