Juan’s condition is serious because he does not have a work permit, yet he suffers from a disease that needs surgery. Additionally, he does not have relatives to take care of him, given the nature of the disease and its extent. When seeking treatment options, Juan will have to deal with several challenges. One of the challenges is that he does not have the necessary documents that would help him in seeking medical care in the country.
The laws suggest that any migrant must prove his or her legality before receiving government-funded services. If he decides to seek private medical services from the local providers, he will have to part away with a considerable amount, which he does not have currently given the nature of his work. He cannot risk visiting the government clinic because the chances are high that he might be thrown out of the country. The challenge is related to cultural beliefs and traditions as regards medical conditions. His friends are all of Hispanic origin, and they advise him to seek the services of the traditional doctor because his condition might be related to witchcraft.
The culture of Mexicans is based on the Greek traditional beliefs whereby natural calamities, including diseases, are brought about by the evil spirits (Congress, 2004). If the situation does not improve, an individual is forced to seek divine intervention. For instance, Juan uses special water from his village for cleansing, yet the situation is getting worse. He will have to choose between abandoning traditional beliefs and adopting modern approaches to diseases and health conditions.
As he recovers, he will have to decide whether to continue saving the money to take to his family or consume it to gain energy and continue with life. The culture of Mexicans teaches them to be supportive of each other, but Juan will have to choose between his life and the welfare of his family back in Mexico. Once he undergoes an operation, he will not have enough energy to work, implying that he will need time to recover. This will definitely affect his financial status, given the fact that he is an illegal immigrant who cannot seek government services.
Juan does not have sufficient papers to help him land a good job in a foreign country, and he is forced to do any form of work to survive. In this case, it would be better to disclose everything to the immigration department because it might help him secure a better job. In fact, this will help him deal with the family issues affecting his life. The best therapy for Juan would be family therapy, and the entire family should be involved. If he obtains the necessary documents, it would be possible to bring his family to the country, and this will facilitate family therapy.
Regarding cultural and religious beliefs, he will have to apply reason and abandon some of the damaging cultural practices, such as using water to cure ailments instead of seeking scientifically proved drugs. However, he might continue practicing Catholicism because it is compatible with the scientific teachings on health.
He will have to forget about his family for some time because of the deteriorating health condition. His immigration status and financial position cannot allow him to carry out the expected family roles at the time. His health is very important because it will determine the future of the family. If he survives, the living standards of the family will improve, but the case will be different, he fails to recover.
Reference
Congress, P.E. (2004). Cultural and Ethical Issues in Working with Culturally Diverse Patients and Their Families: The Use of the Culturagram to Promote Cultural Competent Practice in Health Care Settings. The Haworth Social Work Practice Press, an imprint of the Haworth Press, 39(4), 249-262.