Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Hospital hires Shamans

This article from the New York Times highlights a California hospital that has afforded clergy-type access to Hmong shaman who visit and provide healing ceremonies for patients.

The article broadens briefly to discuss other cultural adaptations that hospitals are making, such as alterations to menus to provide traditional foods.

I thought it was worth a look both for the writer's descriptions of Hmong healing ceremonies, and for the fact that the story refers to the rituals as part of a cultural adaptation, rather than a religious one.

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