Background: Few studies have examined culture's effect on pediatric care.
Objectives: To analyze 3 cases illustrating the importance of culture in pediatrics.
Methods: Case analysis with a cultural competency model.
Results: No interpreter was available for the parents of a 3-year-old brought to the emergency department because of abdominal pain; she was discharged twice, returned with an acute abdomen, and was hospitalized for treatment of appendiceal rupture and peritonitis. A 2-year-old fractured her clavicle in a fall but was placed in social services' custody because of a pediatrician's misinterpretation. Parents of a ventilation-dependent 2-week-old with encephalopathy, seizures, and renal failure were unaware of the infant's poor prognosis, despite use of an interpreter.
Conclusions: Culture can have a significant impact on pediatric care; use of a simple model can ensure that pediatricians provide culturally competent care.