Nursing student expelled for Facebook photo - KansasCity.com
I was intrigued by the story above. It gave the impression that a student nurse was expelled for posting a picture of herself smiling over the top of a placenta they were examining in a clinical education setting.
At first I thought, "how unfair!" but then I reflected and especially in the New Zealand context I realised that this just wasn't about posting a photograph but if you look at the said picture it suggests an apparent disrespect for an organ of the body.
I do believe however, that rather than expelling the students it would have been better to address this as an educational opportunity within a cultural setting. I also believe that education surrounding the placenta should take place within the culture of birthing and not be separated from it.
In many cultures and especially in Maori culture, the placenta, Whenua has special significance and so this picture could cause some offence as a potential source of disrespect.
I believe the university missed an opportunity and shirked their educational responsibility on this one and chosen instead the easy option of washing their hands.
3 comments:
Interesting viewpoint Pam. I thought she looked really excited by the placenta and pleased to have studied it. I see the placenta as something really beautiful and amazing - many women have done placental prints of their placentas. My thinking is that the tutor had taken the placenta to the tutorial, would have been with the woman's permission - that's usual. The fact that the student had a photo with it is not at all troublesome to me - if she had been pulling faces or demeaning the placenta in some way, then yes, I would agree that the photo was inappropriate. You've given me cause to think!
Hi Carolyn,
I thought at first as you do it was only when I began to read some comments from others about it being an 'organ which has been disguarded by the body' and so doing with it what we wish was okay that I began to realise that in some cultures it isn't okay. I also didn't particularly like the thoughts of separating the placenta way from the birthing experience.
My thoughts on the subject: http://sarah-stewart.blogspot.com/2011/01/placenta-students-and-facebook.html
Post a Comment