The End of the Year...

At the beginning of this class I thought, "Great another English class." Like I stated in my first blog, I've never been good at writing and it isn't my favorite thing. But throughout this course I've learned so much and of course, have written a good bit. It was a long journey but I've made it to the end as a whole!

I learned a lot more than I expected from the class and feel I have improved as a writer as well. Some of the assignments were long and painful but something good came out of them. Through the peer editing workshops I got the chance to practice my peer editing skills and improve on them. I no longer just correct some grammar mistakes, I write suggestions and go in-depth in editing. I'm no longer afraid to mark up my partners paper haha. Writing is still not my favorite thing and I doubt it will ever be but it's become more bearable thanks to this course. I can surely say what I've learned I'll take with me through the rest of my college writing career. Overall, its been a long, painful, but beneficial journey. Thank you Carolyn for pushing us to our limit and helping us improve our writing. You did a great job teaching this course :)

"The Pura Principle" Reflection

I LOVEDDDDDDDDD this article!! It was a complete page turner for me haha. I started reading and figured I'd finish later but I couldn't stop reading!! I loved the dialogue used and the story was very interesting as well. I loved how it was sort of in Spanglish too haha. For me it was as if I was reading a novela script or something like it. I got kind of lost in the beginning which made me want to read more to better understand what was going on. The language used was so real, it wasn't like the formal stuff we always read. The plot was also very attention grabbing. I felt the mom's anger when rafa would go off doing crazy things haha. It resembles your typical story of a person with an illness striving to be normal and not let it effect them. I compared my mother to rafa's mother and found them almost identical. Always working hard and exhausting herself but shows no sign of it. I know that no matter what I do she'd always have open arms for me or any of my siblings. Overall, great article! I really enjoyed reading it :)

Waltz with Bashir

The Scene That Stood Out: There were many scenes that most stood out to me in this movie. The beginning scene is one of them. It starts in a very peculiar way that grabs my attention. First one dog, then 3, and finally there's like 26. They are running like crazy and look very scary! My first reaction was "What in the world?!" Then it changes to a bar where two men are talking. This scene stands out to me because it draws you into the movie and makes you wonder what the movie is going to be about. It also caught me off guard because I didn't know the movie was going to be animated. It set the mood for the rest of the film and gave reason for it as well. The scene leads into the rest of the movie. It essentially sparks the plot.

Goals of the Film: The intentions of the film were kind of blurry to me. It did a great job of giving an example of post traumatic stress and the affects it has on an individual. The film could have also had the purpose of recalling the events of the Lebanon War and informing others of the events that took place. The film could also be representing one side of those involved in the war. On one side it could be against the actions that were taken by the Lebanese forces. These are the goals I took from what I got from the film. 

Effect of the Animation: Again, I'm really unsure as to why the film would be all animated. This completely through me off, especially because of the topic it covered. To me it's as if it takes importance away from the film's topic. But there is another view. The confusion that comes from it being animated made me pay closer attention to what was going on and what was being said. The animation could have possibly had the purpose to draw in the viewer. A way of better informing them of the events and their importance.
 

5 New Annotations

 Bearing Witness to the Ethics of Practice: Storying Physicians Medical Mistake Narratives
        
      This study reveals the stories of many physicians who have bared witness to medical mistakes and how they have dealt with it. In-depth interviews reveal how physicians put together their experiences and how they share their narratives. This study also touches on the connection how practitioners and scholars bear witness to emotional telling and retelling of medical mistake experiences.

Carmack, Heather J. "Bearing Witness to the Ethics of Practice: Storying Physicians' Medical Mistake Narratives." Health Communication 25.5 (2010): 449-458. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 3 Apr. 2011.

Medical Ethics, Malpractice, and Emergency Medical Services

        In this article, Congressman Paul Rogers addresses the issues surrounding medical malpractice and ethics. He closely focuses on the role of congress and law on these issues. Many questions are addressed, such as: "who should solve the malpractice dilemma?" "what are the social effects of the increase in medical malpractice suits?" Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are also discussed.
 
Rogers, Paul G. "Medical Ethics, Malpractice, and Emergency Medical Services: Some Congressional Concerns." American Journal of Law & Medicine 1.2 (1975): 283. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 3 Apr. 2011.

 The Locality Rule and the physician's Dilemma


       This article addresses the differences between local medical care standards and national medical care standards. The connection between these two and medical malpractice is also discussed thoroughly. It is also explained how the legal standard of care is determined and also explains the locality rule and the ethical issues it presents. The author connects the application of the rule when it was instated and its rule in our medical society today.

Lewis, Michelle Huckaby, John K. Gohagan, and Daniel J. Merenstein. "The Locality Rule and the Physician's Dilemma." JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association 20 June 2007: 2633+. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 3 Apr. 2011.

 Judging Doctors


         This article discusses four different situations in which a judge has to examine a doctors conduct and opinions. One being in a case of an accusation of negligence. Each situation requires different considerations and implementation of different principles. There are though some overlaps in several situations. The author argues there are also defects in these situations as well. He discusses what they are and what should be done to fix them.

Davies, Geoffrey L. "JUDGING DOCTORS." ANZ Journal of Surgery 77.10 (2007): 824-830. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 3 Apr. 2011.

The Doctor Won't See You Now

       Many patients lose their physicians due to medical malpractice crisis. Doctors are forced to search for liability insurance to avoid being sued for malpractice. It is argued that this in turn increases the cost of health care. The article addresses arguments that state governments should help, physicians carry some of the blame, and that the income of doctors is falling.
   
Michael Peltier, et al. "THE DOCTOR WON'T SEE YOU NOW. (Cover story)." Time 161.23 (2003): 46. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 3 Apr. 2011.

My thoughts on John Q...

First off, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED the movie! :) It kept me on my toes throughout the whole thing! The plot was sad and made me want to cry at some points but overall great movie. Can't say I was a fan of the hospital director lady until the end though, when she got some sense in her brain. There were a lot of scenes that stuck out to me, as the movie was very emotional. The most memorable were the following:

• When Mike first fell down during his baseball game: This scene definitely used pathos. The way the scene slowed down and the camera zoomed into his face as he fell. It gave a clear shot of his facial expression as he went down. This scene set up what the movie was going to be about and rose questions about what would happen next. 
• Doctors inform the parents of Mike's heart failure: This scene gave a sense of pathos and ethos. Ethos came from the very professional setting and the people present in the room (head of cardiology and director of the hospital). The camera angle during this part did a good job of showing how the professionals addressed the parents and their manners toward them. After this scene I wasn't a big fan of the director -_-. It then gave some pathos when the parents reacted to the news of their son's heart failure. The way the camera focused on their faces and their embrace when they heard the news. This scene gave light to what problem the parents not faced.

There were many other scenes but I'll just leave you with these two. Again, LOVED the movie. Kudos to Professor Urena for choosing it!! :) 

On-going Research

"What are the Repercussions for disclosing a Medical Error?"

• This article aims to reveal if disclosing a medical error to a patient is beneficial. It points out little evidence is present to make the claim that it is beneficial and it prevents legal action. It is explained that telling a patient an error was done improves the patients confidence in the physician and it can lead to improvement so the error does not occur again. 

Johnson, Kevin E. "What are the repercussions of disclosing a medical error?." Journal of Family Practice 57.2 (2008): 124-125. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 7 Mar. 2011.

"Medical Errors, Apologies, and Apology Laws"

•  This article addresses the significance of an apology when a wrong is committed. In medicine it is very difficult to admit a wrong was done because of the fear of legal action. It then gives examples of apology legislation in the U.S and Canada and explains their importance.

MacDonald, Noni, and Amir Attaran. "Medical errors, apologies and apology laws." CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal 180.1 (2009): 11. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 7 Mar. 2011.

Other Sources: 
Gary E. Rosenthal, et al. "Disclosing Medical Errors to Patients: Attitudes and Practices of Physicians and Trainees." JGIM: Journal of General Internal Medicine 22.7 (2007): 988-996. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 7 Mar. 2011.

Price, Kim. "Towards a history of medical negligence." Lancet 375.9710 (2010): 192-193. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 7 Mar. 2011.

 Chervenak, Frank A., and Laurence B. McCullough. "Ethics and Growing Legal Crisis in Medicine." Croatian Medical Journal 46.5 (2005): 724-727. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 7 Mar. 2011.

Philadelphia Remarks

First off I really enjoyed the movie! :) I found it really interesting to watch. The plot was very attention grabbing. There were many scenes that stuck out to me. Of course with the topic of the movie there will be many scenes which stand out and grab your attention. The following scenes stood out to me:

• The second meeting between Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington- I found it appalling how Washington reacted once he discovered Hanks had AIDS. He backed away and watched his every move including all he touched. He then immediately visited his doctor once Hanks left. This was a clear example of the ignorance present in society at the time regarding AIDS. This scene appealed to emotions or the Pathos rhetorical appeal. After viewing the scene I felt anger towards Washington for his reaction.
• The conversation Hanks ex bosses have after they receive court order- I feel like this scene enraged me the most! The words that were spoken are still ringing in my head. "He brought AIDS into our office, our bathrooms, to our company picnic, etc" The most outrageous statement I have heard throughout the movie. Not to mention it was their justification for firing Hanks. Again because of the anger reaction from this scene I feel it is the Pathos appeal.
• When Hanks collapses in the courtroom- This scene was very memorable. Throughout the scene there were shots that switched between the witness stand and Hanks. Each switch the pain in Hanks face worsened, until he finally collapsed. This stirred in me sadness and pity for Hanks. I thought if I were the jury I'd give him the win in the case. Again, Pathos appeal is evident in this scene.
• Hanks death- This is by far the saddest scene in the film. I almost wanted to cry. It ties up the movie and the journey Hanks has been through. It gave off a mixture of feelings, on one side happiness because he won sadness because his life is about to end.

Looking at all my memorable scenes they all caused some sort of emotional reaction from me.  Leading me to conclude that Pathos appeal is very strong in pulling in viewers or readers.

Final Topic

       My final topic for my Experience and Other Evidence paper is medical malpractice. Like I noted in my last blog, this is a touchy subject for me because of my experience with it. This event took place the summer before I was in the sixth grade. My mom underwent a tonsillectomy. She was said to recover in a couple of weeks but instead her condition worsened. This ended with my mom having twenty-two stitches on her neck and a vivid memory of a near death experience. This is what inspires this paper. I want to get to the core of medical malpractice.
       The questions I will mainly address in this paper are those in the definition and cause and effect stasis. I will attempt to define medical malpractice and tie it in with my personal experience. The following questions fall under the definition stasis: What is medical malpractice? Does it exist worldwide? Do guidelines exist when dealing with medical malpractice? Along with the definition stasis, I will also answer questions regarding cause and effect. For example, What cause medical malpractice to become recognized? How did its creation effect the medical field? These questions are the basis from which my paper will be constructed.

Experience and other Evidence Topics

Medical Malpractice: This is a touchy subject for me because of my experience with it. When I was in the sixth grade my mom had a tonsillectomy. She was supposed to recover in a couple of weeks but instead she got worse. The pain she felt was unbearable and she could hardly sleep. One early morning she was got up to take her pain medicine and ended up throwing up blood all over the kitchen and hallway. My dad heard the noise and quickly got up. The cause of all this was her doctors error. He had slightly slit her artery during her tonsillectomy. He was aware of it and didn't say a word.

Questions this brings up are what is classified as malpractice? How are people compensated for the wrong doing? Can doctors be held accountable for these "accidents"?

My target audience could be medical students or victims of malpractice. I think they both would benefit and obtain knowledge over the subject.

Abortion:  This is a highly debated topic today in our society. Is it wrong or right? I can't say i've personally experienced having in abortion but I know people that have. I have also gotten the chance to witness a protest firsthand against abortion. The protest was staged in Germantown, MD where Doctor Carhart is now performing abortions late in pregnancy. I had never seen a protest firsthand before.

Questions: What are the views on abortion? What caused this protest? Why did this doctor choose to work in Maryland? What should be done to find an agreement?

Audience: Abortion Activists

Health care for college students: As a freshman college student this topic kinda scares me. I was clueless on what to do if I got sick and what I should do about insurance. My parents had always handled all that stuff. Now a semester into college, I have learned a little more about the healthcare system at Maryland. It angers me how insurance billing works. I feel like we students get targeted and taken advantage of. I became aware of all of this when I got sick last semester and had to make an appointment at the health center. I was billed to my student account for my visit. If I want to be repaid I had to endure this long process. End result till haven't gotten compensated for it.

Questions: What is the system for healthcare set up for students? Why is it set up this way? Why wasn't I compensated? How can this be improved?

Audience: College Students

Reading Reflection on "Tricksters and Truthtellers"

        I found this article very hard to read. It was quite lengthy and hard to understand. Maybe it was because I had other things in mind or I just wasn't interested in it; either way I still did not find it enjoyable. I'm one of those readers that need to be able to connect with the reading. If I find no way to connect I find it boring.
         What I did manage to get out of the article was the importance of illness narratives. Patients need some way to cope with their illness. What better way than learning about someone who has gone through the same illness? Frank explained how he was in search for a story he could relate too but found none. This is what inspired him to write his own story in coping with cancer.
         Towards the end is where he lost me, when he started about "truthtellers and tricksters". He totally lost me. I had no idea what he was talking about and what his definitions of them were. I would've liked if he had explained them a little better or clearer. Overall, the piece wasn't terrible it had its interesting parts but I wouldn't have read it for fun. 

Confessional Writing

In my opinion, there is a difference between a confession and apology. A confession is meant to reveal a truth that was said or done, there is mostly negative feedback expected. With an apology the truth is already out and forgiveness is being searched for the action or what was said. So you could technically say, that in some cases, an apology comes after a confession. 

I think using confession in writing spices things up. An example would be like a diary, a place where most people write their innermost thoughts and confessions. Confessional writing draws readers in with its raw nature. It almost brings life to writing, you get a sense that your in that persons mind.

This can be a good thing and bad. Many people may have thoughts that others do not agree with and can be speculative about, but there can be those who agree. It all depends on what makes the writing confessional. There's a difference between confessing you love a person and you murdered a person. So it all depends. 

This Writing Business...

Well hello there I'm Rosa! :) I come from a farmland called Frederick, Maryland. Which is about an hour and thirty minutes away thanks to rush hour. I'm originally from Silver Spring, Maryland. I'm Latina and very proud! I'm an Elementary Education major, so I love working with children. I hope to end up being a third grade teacher, just not sure where exactly.

Now lets talk about this whole writing business. I'll be honest writing is not my favorite thing in the world. I'd rather do math problems and I don't like those either! I guess its just the technical stuff about writing that I don't like, all the "rules" you have to follow. I do though agree with the opinion that it is a great form of expression. I'm just not an expert at it, it's become more tortuous than anything. This semester I just hope I can make it through all the writing and learn something new. Overall just get better at it and have a positive experience with writing.