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Medical encounters in "closed religious communities" : palliative care for Low German-Speaking Mennonite people

This multi-sited ethnography focuses on beliefs and practices associated with death,
dying, and palliative care among the Low German-Speaking (LGS) Mennonites. The
qualitative data, collected through participant-observation fieldwork and interviews
conducted in three LGS Mennonite communities in Mexico and Canada, show a gap
between official definitions of palliative care and its practice in real life. The LGS
Mennonites’ care for their dying members, in reality, is integrated into their community
lives that emphasize or reinforce discipleship by promoting the practices of mutual aid,
social networks, and brotherhood/sisterhood among community members. This study
also offers ethnographic insights into some difficulties that healthcare providers face
while delivering the “holistic” palliative care services to their patients in general, and to
the LGS Mennonites in particular. Finally, it provides some suggestions that may aid
healthcare providers in developing culturally safe and competent health care services
for the LGS Mennonite people living in Canada. / xi, 231 leaves ; 29 cm

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:ALU.w.uleth.ca/dspace#10133/3079
Date January 2011
CreatorsFan, HaiYan (LingLing), University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
ContributorsKulig, Judith, Ferzacca, Steve
PublisherLethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Anthropology and Health Sciences, 2011, Arts and Science, Anthropology & Health Sciences
Source SetsLibrary and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
Languageen_US
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
RelationThesis (University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science)

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