title: Stuck in the mud.
abstract: The reservation was a littered muddy wasteland, and its population endured poor health, not unlike a third world country. Native American patients suffered from conditions of squalor, alcoholism, diabetes, and drug abuse. I was initially enthusiastic to serve this population, but my ideals and tolerance were challenged through time and experience. Rescuing a teenage girl in labor with a footling breech brought my cultural incompetence to a head. I searched for validation of my service and meaningful purpose in my efforts.
authors.affiliation: St. Mark's Family Medicine Residency, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. rallen@utahhealthcare.org
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000208:ethnology; D000739:Anecdotes as Topic; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001946:Breech Presentation; D054521:Cultural Competency; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D009009:Montana; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000208:ethnology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology