This story not only brings up issues of child rearing (just exactly what type of people should procreate...Jon & Kate do you hear me??) but it also raises the ethical issue of health care providers and how far they should go to save someone's life. I mean sure it all started out good and dandy, he had the best of intentions this doctor but as the situation became more frustrating (what with the coddling mother and the embarrassed father) the more pleasure he recieved from making sure he got what he wanted rather than take a step back and trying a different approach with the child. he also noted that he could hae come back in an hour or so but the sooner a diagnosis was made then the sooner he could have saved her life. but now instead of coming back in an hour and getting a less riled up brat they are wasting an hour to strangle her to see her tonsels! and then another half an hour for her to take her vengence out on them for discovering her secret. he should have been like "House" and just treated her for the dyptheria first then asked questions later. would have saved a whole lot of time.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
The Use of Force
Well this story is just a bucket of joy! Although the narrator was enamored by this bratty little minx I will say that I was disgusted by her behavior! And in my culture we do not stand for such behavior from children, much less a sick child! Aren't you supposed to be sick? Then why in the hell are you fighting the doctor? You better not waste my damn $3. That's how those parents should have approached the little wench. Instead their actions are defeating the entire purpose of why they have invited the doctor to their home. I agree with him for his contempt of the parents. There love for their child clouded their ability to use the proper amount of force to get the child to open up. And I don't mean physical force either, I mean their control over their doughter was lax from before this meeting with the doctor which makes this little brat think she can do whatever she likes. "Oh sure, I'l just keep this little secret from them. They don't have to know. What do they know anyway?" I am almost certain that character, Mathilda was it?, would have thought such things.
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i agree with you the little girl is a difficult child which even the parents couldnt control but when the doctor came in to help she wouldnt even open her mouth. but it was the whole concept about exposure that was key in the story i think.
ReplyDeleteAgreed - above all else, the main focus should be placed on the doctor and whether or not his actions should be deemed acceptable. I wouldn't even give the child the title of antagonist. Her only real purpose is to trigger the doctor's blood lust. And was the enjoyment experienced by the doctor a result of his devotion to he expertise or sadistic? Dunno.
ReplyDeleteYour're right about the story raising a number of issues, esp. about the place of science and medicine in our culture--attitudes toward it, its hegemony and what it elides/evades and conflicts this can cause; In a large part, the problem in the story is not the doctor, but our conception of science and in particular, in this instance, the medical profession. See also my comments on Anum's blog.
ReplyDeleteInteresting discussion here. This idea of "exposure" could be taken in a # of ways. Try not to see the story as a judgement of the doctor, though, but as putting into question/on trial our concepts of scientific objectivism
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of these comments. The girl was acting out of line but the real thought in question is the doctor and better yet our conception of science and the medical field. The way the doctor seemed enjoyed by this makes us think of whether or not he is a barbaric freak or just because of his knowledge.
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