Learning all aspects of every culture that could influence a medical interaction would not only be impractical, but it also fails to take into consideration the heterogeneity that exists within cultural groups. It is impossible to completely understand or know a culture. Therefore, in order to demonstrate cross-cultural understanding, a physician should recognize the individual biases in a particular situation and be aware of the different social and cultural factors that influence a patient’s understanding of health and illness. It is often helpful for physicians to explore the meaning of an illness with their patients by asking them questions such as, “what do you think has caused your problem?”, “what kind of treatment do you think would work?”, and “how can I be most helpful to you?”(6) In addition, it is also useful for physicians to ask if the patient has seen anyone else about a given problem or used any nonmedical remedies or treatment. Similarly, many cultures associate stigmas and pride with certain health afflictions, so doctors need to exercise caution and respect when discussing culturally controversial diseases, especially concerning HIV/AIDS and other STIs.