Blog #9: Chinese Doctors Becoming the Targets of Patients’ Anger

According to the China Hospital association, medical staffs are being attacked by patients or their relatives at a rate of once every two weeks per hospital. At least six serious incidents have occurred in the last two weeks. This includes the case of Dr. Yunje who was stabbed to death by a patient unhappy with his treatment on October 25^th. Since 2002, attacks have risen by an average of nearly 23 percent a year. In the late 1980s, the state provided about 60 percent of investment in most public hospitals. After medical reforms by 2009, they were providing 20 percent and remaining 80 percent had to be covered with revenue generated by the hospitals. The central government’s National Health and Family Planning Commission has pushed for emergency measures to be implemented which includes having hospitals assign one security guard per 20 beds, and guards should account for no less than 3 percent of the total medical staff.

The issue of high medical cost for Chinese people is a sociological created problem that has surfaced in recent years. Nearly all the major medical facilities are run by the government but underfunding has become a major problem that has caused poor healthcare quality and crowded hospitals. After learning more about China’s overpopulation problem, I can see why healthcare is not a major concern. It is also important to note that violent incidents are more severe in these smaller or local hospitals. There is a widespread lack of trust in doctors and hospital administrators, not to mention corruption in every level. This is affecting families all over China who often do not have enough time or money to pay for private care in China. Illness frequently causes bankruptcy in families who exhaust their saving on healthcare. These families’ expect positive results and when they don’t see them, they often blame the doctors which explain the rise of violence within the hospitals. This is commonly a problem with families living in poverty because they make very little money in the factories they usually work in. If someone in the family were to become ill, that would worsen their situation because it will be less income contributing to the family.

http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/01/doctors-the-targets-of-patients-anger/?_r=0

Karina Velazquez

11/8/13

1:05 am

Blog 3: Shootings at Nairobi's Westgate Mall

Kenya faced a devastating terrorist attack on Saturday September 21 that lasted for five days in Nairobi’s upscale Westgate mall. The attackers were an estimated 10 to 15 Somali Islamist extremists who had meticulously planned the massacre. The attack involved them slipping in assault rifles, used by Kenyan security services, into the mall and Kenya’s borders. These attackers opened fire in the mall shortly after 12 pm killing what is now confirmed to be at least 62 children and adults. Although the motive is still unclear, it possible that the attack had something to do with the recent killing of Omar Hammami, a Shabab fighter who grew up in Alabama and was fatally shot by another wing of the Shabab less than two weeks ago. Mr. Hummmami gained unpopularity among the Somalia community after he complained that the Shaban had become too brutal with their fellow Muslims. In the Nairobi mall shootings, civilians were asked by their attackers what religion they belonged to. Those who were Muslims were released while all others were said to be killed on the spot. Dozens of families are still unsure if their loved ones are dead or alive as they wait until more bodies are being released.

            This massacre is a sociological created problem because the shootings were said to have been based off of religious differences. Religion plays an important role in how any society is structured and functions. Religion helps guide people into making decisions of whether something is right or wrong therefore, it can help determine how people of that society will behave. The shootings at Nairobi’s mall are an example of how people of extremist views on religion can act out on those beliefs to do what they believe is right. Consequently, families are paying the price for their cause by losing their loved ones. Unlike other shootings that target men, these shootings were not aimed at a specific gender or age group. Women, men, and children were all victims of this horrendous crime and their families are left to face the consequences of the shootings. Since Nairobi is the home to one of Africa’s largest stock exchange headquarters, this could possibly lure people away from coming to make business there. Consequently affecting the economy and the government policies of Nairobi which will therefore impact the lives of Kenyan families. 

Karina Velazquez

9/27/13

11:30 am

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/25/world/africa/kenya-mall-shooting.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&

Blog 2: Fear and Loathing in North India’s Sugar Cane Town

Violence in small villages in India has begun to spread due to religious tensions. On September 7^th, riots broke out between the majority Jat community and the Muslim minority in the Muzaffarnagar district located about 80 miles North of New Delhi in an agricultural district of predominately sugar cane fields. Forty-five people have already been killed and 42,000, mostly Muslims, have been evacuated to Muslims camps located in Muslim majority villages. The start of the riots, however, started out small with two Hindus man killing a Muslim man for stalking their female relative. The family of the stalker retaliated by killing these two Hindu men and progressively the violence evolved into riots. On September 8^th, local police were sent out to respond to the violence by imposing curfews and evacuating Muslims to camps. The families from the villages affected by the violence have encountered everything from shootings involving the death of many of their family members as well as the burning down of their villages.

            Families of the victims killed by the violence in their villages must come to terms with the loss of their loved ones while also adjusting to their new lives without them. This can be especially challenging for women because of the lack of financial opportunities they have in the rural areas of India. This can eventually lead to poverty within their families if they are unable to come up with enough money to support their families. . It is also important to note that Muslims are the minorities in the Jat community where the violence has occurred which can suggest that they are being treated this way since there is less of them to fend for themselves.   The violence occurring in India also more sociological implications because Hindus and Muslims are not being treated the same. According to the article, unlike the Hindus, Muslims are being evacuated to crowed camps in horrible conditions where other Muslims are going through the same situation. The Prime minister has already promised relief to the victims and persecution of those responsible for the riots but nothing has actually been done. 

Karina Velazquez

9/20/2013

12:08 am

http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/17/fear-and-loathing-in-north-indias-sugarcane-town/?src=twrhp&_r=0

Protest and Violence- Byron Martin

The protest in Yemen have seen many killed for voicing there opinions. The violence could end up starting a civil war. Protesting or displaying your opinions does not deserve punishment. People abuse authority when they are given to much and there is no oversight. The Durham parks club has been protesting for years now to have a park renovated in Durham. The City Council has not agreed with them, but also, they have not opened fire on them. This is a protest against a group that wants the money to go elsewhere or to the projects they desire to be done. There is constant violence in Durham and maybe if the kids had a descent park to go to they would not be in the streets shooting each other and breaking into our homes. Violence is everywhere, from Durham to Yemen, and protesting or expressing your opinions should not led to punishment. Whether it is physical punishment, alienation of or discrimination against a group, there should be no violence or harm of any kind done to someone for voicing there opinions.

Byron Martin
http://www.heraldsun.com
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