Pregnancy Loss among Refugee and Immigrant Patients
Considerations in approaching conversations and counseling for pregnancy loss among refugee and immigrant patients and families. Includes link to case study examples. Developed from stakeholder interviews and literature review.
March 16, 2021 · Article
1615852800
Pregnancy Loss among Refugee and Immigrant Patients: Case Studies
Case studies intended to promote discussion and reflection on the topic of U.S. healthcare provided during perinatal loss experienced by immigrant and refugee families.
March 16, 2021 · Article
1615852800
Cultural Considerations for End-of-Life Discussions: A Literature Review
This literature review explores cultural considerations related to end-of-life care discussions.
May 2, 2019 · Article
1556755200
Cultural Implications of Brain Death – A Literature Review
This literature review explores cultural considerations related to end-of-life care discussions.
September 19, 2017 · Article
1505779200
Advance Directives Presentation – Khmer/English
This is a 41 minute video presentation of a discussion led by Dr. Alex Molnar (Harborview Med Center/Univ of WA) with a community group of Cambodian Americans about the subjects of advance directives and end-of-life decision making.
October 2, 2015 · Video
1443744000
Cultural Relevance in End-of-Life Care
This resource addresses three major areas of cultural relevance in end-of-life care: cultural competency in clinical practice; advance directives; and pain management.
August 23, 2012 · Article, PDF
1345680000
Medical Examiner Dialogue: Ethiopian Orthodox Christian
Information about the cultural and religious norms associated with death and dying among Ethiopian Orthodox Christians.
August 14, 2009 · Article
1250208000
Issues of Culture and the Role of Medical Examiner
Dr. Richard Harruff, Chief Medical Examiner, King County (WA State), initiated a series of meetings that explored traditional beliefs and practices about death, suicide, autopsy, organ donation, religion, delivery of news, and burial.
August 11, 2009 · Article
1249948800
Medical Examiner Dialogue: Somali
Information about the cultural and religious norms associated with death and dying among Somalis.
April 1, 2008 · Article
1207008000
Somali Funeral Traditions
To be practiced in the US, the traditional Somali funeral may require building awareness among local service providers and authorities about Somali customs.
April 1, 2008 · Article
1207008000
Death in Cambodian Buddhist Culture
Information about Cambodian Buddhist perspectives and funeral practices during times of death.
January 8, 2008 · Article
1199750400
End of Life Care
A short clinical pearl about the additional complexities of communicating about end-of-life care with non-English speaking. Recommedations for providers working with interpreters.
February 20, 2006 · Article
1140393600
Medical Examiner Dialogue: Vietnamese Buddhist
Introduction Please first read Death: The Cross Cultural Context – which serves as an introduction for this encounter. Trust Cross […]
June 1, 2002 · Article
1022889600
Death and Suicide in Sri Lanka
In most Buddhist countries the suicide death rates are not very high. Unfortunately, in my country Sri Lanka, the suicide […]
June 1, 2002 · Article
1022889600
Death: The Cross Cultural Context
Landing page for articles documenting King County Medical Examiner's series of cross cultural meetings.
January 1, 2001 · Article
978307200
Death Rituals in Vietnamese Society
A look at some of the rituals around death in Vietnamese culture from a personal perspective.
December 1, 2000 · Article
975628800
Understanding Cultural Difference in Caring for Dying Patients
This article suggests a way to assess cultural variation in end-of-life care, arguing that culture is only meaningful when interpreted in the context of a patient's unique history, family constellation, and socioeconomic status.
September 5, 1995 · PDF
810259200
The Effect of Values and Culture on Life-Support Decisions
Withdrawing life support is always difficult. When patients and health professionals are from different ethnic backgrounds, value systems that form the basis for such decisions may conflict.
September 1, 1992 · PDF
715305600
External Resources
Please also see our Related Websites page for a selected list of websites related to the populations or topics covered on EthnoMed.
The WSMA offers advance directives—both the health care directive and the durable power of attorney for health care—to physicians and patients to help guide decision-making at the end of life.
Latinos experience significant health disparities at the end of life compared with non-Latinos.
Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, Volume 11, Issue 6, June 1996, Pages 964–965.
A legal advance directive document in Washington State.
Article about some of the cultural issues for Somalis about organ donation in Minneapolis, MN.
This article attempts to provide the reader with a concise compilation of rules and regulations regarding funeral rites in accordance with authentic Islamic teachings.
The Health Care Interpreter Network (HCIN) offers an online continuing education platform for professional interpreters. Includes some palliative and end of life related courses.
As the use of palliative care grows, so does the diversity of patients who opt for it. The California Health Care Foundation has a free curriculum for trainers of medical interpreters that covers the topic with sensitivity.
This qualitative (focused) ethnographic study explored communication strategies for HCPs to initiate EOL care discussions with older Chinese Americans in the San Francisco Bay Area.