Blog 4

What i find most interesting about my topic is the lack of consideration and research done in the mainstream public health system and culturally appropriate ways of dealing with the subject of organ donation/ transplantation in Maoridom. Many assumptions and stereotypes were evident which really made me question the whole biomedical system of healing and it's symbolic functions.

Following a previous paper looking at biomedicine versus Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda and other alternative medicines as well as a paper on ritual and beliefs sparked my sociological brain off again on another tangent.

I explored the idea of the mechanization of the biomedical domain and organ transplant as 'rite of passage'. In fact patients have reported the whole experience as feeling 'born again' or 'reborn'.

The mechanical setting of the hospital, the ritual of patients dressing in deindividualized clothing/ gowns, cleansing rituals, vital signs being taken to a death-like state. This really hits home the ritualistic function of organ transplants in biomedicine and it's domination/ power over alternative healing systems.
It seems so impersonal. Which is where the sanitized aspect comes into play and which is probably why i was so shocked by the lack of cultural awareness in many of the readings i found.

In many ways the biomedical model views the body as an organic system of replaceable parts a bit like a car. Maori worldview is in complete opposite to this view and once i started to delve into it there is so much more to learn and experience in regard to tapu aspects and how the Maori health and well being framework is so at variance with the World health organisations conception of health and well being. No wonder so many Maori have had negative experiences in the healthcare system?

I could go on and on but maybe i will leave that for another day...

Maori organ donation rates; cultural integrity versus life chances

Blog # 3

Cultural relativism involves viewing from the perspective of participants, not judging from your own values and standards. These two articles have a juxtaposition of views, one from the perspective of Maori viewpoints and the other from an outsiders perspective. The article by Maskill & Morrell states under the ‘cultural issues’ subheading that “Maori and Pacific Islanders appear to be less willing to be organ and tissue donors, but the degree of this unwillingness and the reasons for it remain unclear” (Maskill & Morrell, 1991, p.9).

Thinking reflexively, the term ‘cultural issues’ implies a negative association, that culture, beliefs and tradition is a hindrance to improving donor statistics. I believe the wording of this statement is erroneous, possibly ‘cultural beliefs surrounding organ donation’ would be a better heading. Also stating that ‘the reasons are largely unknown’ or that ‘Maori are less willing to be donors’ without considering cultural aspects and background is also lacking.

Comparatively, the reading by Webb & Shaw (2011) is much more balanced in its view and the appropriate research has been done into the logistics around Maori worldview, interviewing respondents and gaining an insight into Maori perceptions of organ donation. “Assumptions that Maori do not typically donate organs for transplantation due to cultural and spiritual reasons abound in the New Zealand media. These claims tend to be based on common sense notions of a monolithic Maori world view that does not necessarily reflect empirical evidence” (Webb & Shaw, 2011, p.40). 

So in fact many patients of Maori background are willing organ donors or recipients but the holistic view of their beliefs and shared understandings have not been taken sufficiently into account. “Whakapapa literally means ‘to place in layers’, and can refer to genealogy that provides a link between past generations, to the present and the future, the body is more than just a physical entity or objectified attribute of the individual’s self” (Webb & Shaw, 2011, p.43). Some staff noted in Maskill & Morrell that they had observed that Maori and Pacific peoples are never or only occasionally asked for organs.

As noted above, for some interview participants, but not all, their experiences of donation had spiritual significance, or were related to cultural wellbeing. For wellbeing, several participants mentioned using karakia before and after transplantation.

One interviewee of Maori descent noted:

“I think for Maori in particular for transplantation is that, I think they deserve… in my experience I think that was what was carrying me through was that was my only hesitation. If anyone could guarantee me that my whole cultural wellbeing was going to remain intact, I don’t think I would have had so much angst before. And I think that’s a huge one. So I think there’s still a lot to be done in addressing all those [issues]”. (Webb & Shaw, p.52)

I believe the Webb & Shaw article that takes into account Maori interviewees perspectives and Maori worldview gives a more accurate description of the motivations and reasons behind perceptions surrounding organ donation among Maori as its author is of a Sociological and Social Anthropology background. The latter article published by the department of Health is severely lacking in cultural perspective and ethics and does not represent Maori worldview or reasons for response to organ donation and presents quite a skewed view from my perspective from inadequate research.

Maskill, C., & Morrell, V. (1991). Donating organs in New Zealand; a review of the national register, Wellington, Department of Health.

Webb, R., & Shaw, R. (2011). Whanau, whakapapa and identity in experiences of organ donation and transplantation, Otago, Sites: new series, Vol 8. No. 1, Journal of Social Anthropology and Cultural studies, retrieved from:  https://sites-otago-ac-        nz.ezproxy.massey.ac.nz/Sites/article/view/154/165 

Literature blog

I have never written a position paper before, I am used to presenting my perspective after researching a topic without looking at both sides of the coin. This is new territory, but very valuable learning. Normally I would have a topic and be presenting the information after much critical analysis, but this position paper requires me to take a position on a certain topic. In order to do this I need to know both sides of the debate, which is a valuable learning experience as it’s impossible to make assumptions or lean toward a particular view until both sides of the debate have been thoroughly investigated.

I began my search for information using the Massey library looking for general information on organ donation, as I was not sure which way I was going to argue. My search found several books about organ donation in New Zealand. As I considered my topic more fully, I narrowed down my focus specifically to look at the, Maori population in New Zealand, as I felt this was fitting in the local context. So I further used the Massey website to specifically look up traditional Maori worldview around organ donation and burial. I felt I needed to know how Maori view organ donation from a physical, spiritual and traditional viewpoint and from a historical perspective to give a basis to my position paper.

I used google scholar which I always find helpful in accessing quality sources especially specific topic areas such as mine where I found several readings from quality sources. I found several books from the Massey library but not the greatest selection of up to date material on the subject. I also accessed some material related to ethics and organ donation in preparation for the next assignment.

Finally I remembered the wealth of resources I had available from a previous Anthropology paper which would provide relevant readings especially around the ethics of a culturally appropriate way of researching this subject not being of Maori background myself. I wanted to know the other side of the story surrounding Maori viewing organ donation as a positive action, in which I looked up mainstream websites and found some research papers by a working group of medical background and also some political figures such as Pita Sharples whose own wife had a kidney transplant.

With a varied source of material I can make an informed decision on where I stand as an outsider and weigh up the importance of cultural dimensions and worldviews with modern day organ shortages and medical advancement.