ABSTRACT
A few years ago, a Cambodian father brought his son to the emergency room of a large city hospital. The child was lethargic and had a fever of 103 degrees. During the exam, the, physician noticed severe bruising over the boy’s body. The family spoke only Cambodian, and there was no translator available in the hospital. The language barrier made it difficult to verify what had happened. However, the doctor noted that the father seemed suspicious and anxious. Suspecting foul play, the physician called Child Protective Services (CPS) to report possible child abuse. The doctor admitted the child for observation and sent the father home. The next morning, the father was found hung in his bedroom. Only after speaking with the family’s refugee worker did the physician discover that the bruises were not from abuse. They resulted from an ancient healing called “coin rubbing.” 1 He also learned the father was ashamed that he had lost his son, and that the authorities thought badly of him.
