Bystander Apathy –An Enquiry Into The Expression Of Humanity And Empathy In China (2013-2014)

Aim To explore the apparent lack of personal concern for the welfare of others in China? To develop concepts to understand this  social phenomena in natural  settings using ethnographic and participatory research. Research Question How can the knowledge derived from qualitative research be used to improve the welfare of the poor in Shanghai? Ethics The study was carried out within the guidelines of the declaration of Helsinki. The study was characterised by anonymity, beneficence, non maleficence, and the  maintainence of  the dignity of participants Method Collection of data. The principle data source was “observation” spot observation”(Baksh 1990)”, participant observation”(Hammersley and Atkinson 1983)vignettes(Finch 1987, Sani Bin Gabi 1990), oral history(narrative) Conclusion The study was conducted ethically. It was a worthwhile study attempted to deal with current problems. The publication of this paper can be used to stimulate further enquiry into the problem of those in need of social welfare in Shanghai and China, in the hope it will improve services where they are needed. Suggested solutions In a country where intergenerational family ties are so strong and “guanxi” exists it is paradoxical there is  little empathy for others. Confuscian values, changed family beliefs, and education at school and  university may assist in increasing empathy. Learnt conditioning, to ignore or dissociate, from another human being in   need of help, can be slowly overcome by implementing universal and improved changes in societal living conditions. This can be achieved  by improving social welfare programs, spearheaded by a compassionate government. There is a view that it is an egregious and transparent fiction, to promulgate and publically promote, the philosophies and policies of communism, yet allow these curable social ills to remain. ”Rex ipsa Loquiter”. The healthy should help the sick, the rich should help the poor and the employed should help the unemployed, Proportionately, in accordance with what they have they should give. The promotion of a “ forward thinking, humane, listening and open society, rather than a closed, narrow, opaque, inward looking “weltanschaung” would assist societal reform. We “bystanders”, we must all try to imagine we are in the  place  of those in need, and  feel aas they do, in their situation. We must follow the advice of Mencius (372-289BC) and develop and use “empathy” As Mencius  said, ”a  developed  human heart is the basis  of a moral life”

Effective Decission Making for the Presence of Scoliosis

Scoliosis is a disease, which disfigures and distorts human body, often effecting vital organs, resulting in morbidity and even mortality in severe cases. It is defined as rotations and lateral curvatures of an individual’s spinal column. Scoliosis can be classified into 3 types — infantile (0-3 years), juvenile (4-7 years) and idiopathic (8 years and above). The last one is most common. A two-minute-orthopedic examination of children, in the age group seven- to ten-years, may alert the health-care provider to early-warning signals, provided the examination is conducted by properly trained professionals and child is barefoot and completely undressed except short underpants. The major problem is either following up children, who are not at risk (wasting human resources) or missing up checks on those who are most prone to acquiring this condition (not directing human resources at the target population). In order to resolve this issue, a mathematical index, ‘Cumulative-Scoliosis-Risk Weightage (CSRW)’ is proposed and tested on a sample population of seven- to eight-year old children studying in a local school of Karachi. This index is computed on the basis of child’s age, history of spinal deformities in family, tallness/wasting in child, Adam’s forward-bending test, plumb-line not aligned, drooping of one shoulder, scapulae uneven, midline of back C or S shaped, body triangles not equal, one of the spinal dimples at a higher level as compared to the other and moiré picture asymmetric about the sagittal plane. A high CSRW warranted differential-spinalfunction- testing before sending the child for X rays. Effective methods are the need of hour to reduce or even rule out un-required X rays, since they may be harmful to the delicate bone marrow of growing population. Differential-spinal-function testing consists of four tests — visual examinations in the standing and the sitting positions as well as forward bending tests in the standing and the sitting positions. The study was conducted (after approval from the Ethics Committee of University of Karachi) on 81 school children (28 boys; 53 girls), who were followed up for three years. Threshold values of CSRW were determined for deciding about the at-risk cases. A CSRW of 5.5 after the first check up, 6.5 after the second check up and 7.5 after the third check up, respectively, called for including the child in list of those, who should be followed up till the end of their growth periods. Results of this study indicated that girls were twice at risk for acquiring scoliosis as compared to boys.