The pseudonym "Philo Vaihinger" has been abandoned. All posts have been and are written by me, Joseph Auclair.

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

It could happen

West Africans might come to the United States and go to a "witch doctor" instead of a hospital.

The PC term is "shaman," and it's quite possible.

Just as it's possible Haitians or even homegrown American blacks converted to Santeria might do much that sort of thing.

Or white Evangelical Christians committed to faith healing.

On the other hand, if a West African who suspects he is sick jumps on a plane to come here it's more likely in the hope of better care in a hospital setting.

Given reports of African hospitals that closed when the medical staff, overwhelmed and terrified, fled, or hospitals so packed that new cases are turned away to fend for themselves in the streets while those inside are barely adequately fed and necessary medical supplies of all sorts are frequently exhausted, this is not an irrational move.

On the other hand, if I thought I might be infected and wanted the attentions of a quality shaman I think I would stay in Africa.

The chance of the disease killing you is probably no different in America from whatever it is in Africa.

But the chance of dying of utter neglect or poor care by over-stressed and under-supplied and under-trained hospital staff is likely much greater in Africa.

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