This article compares two models of the healer's role: physicians and Mexican American folk healers (curanderos). The effects of culture on the delivery of health care are manifested in three areas: the protection of patient modesty, the locus of control over diagnosis and treatment, and the role of the healer as a cultural interpreter of teherapeutic regimens. Case examples are presented that illustrate the differences in the roles of the two types of healers.
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