Verified Document

Mountains Beyond Mountains: Farmer's Dilemma Essay

" (p. 28) Once Farmer got involved with Haitian culture, he also found himself entangled in many dilemmas both ethical and political. The first one came in the form of science and magic. Is it ethical to learn sorcery and allow people to think that you are using magic to cure them when you obviously believe in the power of medical science far more than magic? Farmer offered an explanation of why he got involved with sorcery. He realized that without understanding the belief system that controlled the health of Haitian people, it would be impossible to offer them alternatives. Farmer's explanation was simple: "A doctor who knew nothing about local beliefs might end up at war with Voodoo priests, but a doctor anthropologist who understood those beliefs could find ways to make Voodoo houngans his allies." (p. 83)

This was an important step taken by Farmer to bring new ideas to Haiti. He knew that people wouldn't accept new treatments or alternative ones if they didn't trust the person offering them. In order to win their trust, he had to learn more about their cultures and beliefs and he did. This helped him in his cause and in his fight against infectious diseases in Haiti.

The other dilemma came in the form of working locally vs. working globally. When presented with an opportunity to work with some of the more advanced countries of the world such as Russia, Farmer was torn between choosing a poor country that needed him and the world at large that could use his ideas and help. "Russia would mean even more days and weeks away from Haiti, a place much more afflicted by TB and every...

221)
Farmer did not at first know what to do. Should he become a global anthropologist and doctor who was a true crusader or should he limit his energies to Haiti and other poor countries of the region. Farmer finally realized that money coming in from his efforts in other countries could help in his Haitian endeavors. "PIH could legitimately use some of Soro's money to pay salaries." (p. 221). Money was not the only reason for Farmer to go global; there were other more humanitarian reasons as well. He found that, "Russia's epidemic was ravaging its prisons, and prisoners were part of PIH's special constituency." (p. 221)

The third major reason for going global was more political and yet ethical in nature. By doing something in a wealthier nation, Farmer and his colleagues could effectively influence healthcare efforts around the world especially healthcare policies in poor countries. "Russia might represent the kind of opportunity Paul and Jim had hoped for….a chance to alter health policy toward the poor on a global scale." (p. 221)

If I had been in his place, I would have done the same thing because Farmer's reasons are very logical and also take into account the bigger picture. His reasons for expanding his work to wealthier nations could effectively influence health policy around the world including Haiti and such global approach was indeed what these crusaders needed.

Reference

Tracy Kidder. Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World. Random House Trade Paperbacks (2009)

Sources used in this document:
Reference

Tracy Kidder. Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World. Random House Trade Paperbacks (2009)
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Ethics in Relation to Mountains Beyond Mountains
Words: 3403 Length: 10 Document Type: Book Review

Mountains Beyond Mountains Author Tracy Kidder writes, "The world is full of miserable places…" His tongue-in-cheek quote then continues, "One way of living comfortably is not to think about them or, when you do, to send money." Kidder then proceeds to write Mountains Beyond Mountains (2003) and the Robert Frost "road not taken" by Dr. Paul Farmer that is completely opposite to "sending money." Another Mother Theresa, Farmer focuses nearly all

Sweet Grass Cheese's Development and
Words: 1139 Length: 4 Document Type: Term Paper

This increased their word of mouth advertising and eventually led to a very large order from a grocery chain, Fresh Market. This word of mouth marketing helped expand their distribution channels as well. The greatest opportunity for a small business, like Sweet Grass, is to focus on what they do best and serve a niche market. Sweet Grass isn't trying to be the largest dairy producer, with an all-encompassing product

Boudon 2001 and Eskensberger 2001
Words: 1185 Length: 3 Document Type: Thesis

Their anticipated and desired results for their education, personal or practical, may vary widely in unpredictable ways. The attitudes towards educational processes may differ due to the greater and more diverse social and life experiences that color perceptions of classroom life, even more so than the raw educational materials used in the classroom. The teacher must balance addressing individual needs through conferences, personal contacts, and allowing for more independent

Water and Our Life
Words: 830 Length: 3 Document Type: Essay

Rachel Carson, she asserts that water is our most precious natural resource and goes on to state that "most of the earth's abundant water is not usable for agriculture, industry, or human consumption because of its heavy load of sea salts" (1) and therefore "in the midst of this plenty we are in want" (1). Okay, so let's examine this particular argument; first she says that the earth's abundant water

Water in the Middle East
Words: 22307 Length: 75 Document Type: Term Paper

While on one hand, the Nile gets the highest discharge from rainfall on the highlands of Ethiopia and upland plateau of East Africa, located well outside the Middle East region; on the other hand, discharge points of the other two rivers, Euphrates and Tigris, are positioned well within the Middle East region, prevailing mostly in Turkey, Syria along with Iraq. In other areas, recurrent river systems are restricted to

Westward Expansion and Manifest Destiny
Words: 4448 Length: 12 Document Type: Term Paper

" In other words, republicanism in an expanding state would inevitably lead to more despotic, aristocratic, and monarchical regimes. Hence, if the U.S. were to follow a policy of expansion, it would, at least, theoretically conflict with its republican origins. Interestingly, one of the leading proponents of republicanism, Thomas Jefferson had become the third U.S. President after an unexpected electoral crisis in the elections of 1800. He was a great champion

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now