“Why didn't we do it”? Reproductive loss and the problem of post-mortem consent

Reed, Kate; Ferazzoli, Maria Teresa; Whitby, Elspeth

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113835

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Post-mortem consent and procedure is a sensitive subject in England because of the historic scandals at Bristol Royal Infirmary and Alder Hey. Consent levels have been declining (Breeze et al 2012) and are considered particularly problematic in perinatal post-mortem (Reed, Ferazzoli and Whitby 2021). Many of the bodies from which parts were retained without consent in the past were those of infants and foetuses (Sheach Leith 2007).…”

Section: Defining Parents As Kin Through Post-mortem Consentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invisible Labours

Middlemiss

2024

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Tracing women’s experiences of miscarriage and termination for foetal anomaly in the second trimester, before legal viability, shows how such events are positioned as less ‘real’ or significant when the foetal being does not, or will not, survive. Invisible Labours describes the reproductive politics of this category of pregnancy loss in England. It shows how second trimester pregnancy loss produces specific medical and social experiences, revealing an underlying teleological ontology of pregnancy. Some women then understand their pregnancy through kinship with the unborn baby.

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Section: Defining Parents As Kin Through Post-mortem Consentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invisible Labours

Middlemiss

2024

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“…Previous research found consent to be a key issue for both professional and parent participants in the emotionally charged area of perinatal pathology. 7 The 'Death Before Birth' (DBB) project [8][9][10] assessed the impact of the HTA guidance on practices around disposal and found good and improving practice, but significant variation with women's needs not always being met. While the DBB team interviewed women who had experienced a range of pregnancy endings and disposal processes, this was often some time after the experience.…”

Section: How This Study Might Affect Research Practice or Policymentioning

confidence: 99%

Women’s experiences of the consenting process for pregnancy remains disposal following early miscarriage

Kilshaw

2024

BMJ Sex Reprod Health

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Background and methodologyUK clinical practices around managing pregnancy remains after pregnancy loss involve a process of documenting consent. Women are typically offered options for disposal, which may include cremation, burial, releasing for private arrangements, releasing to a funeral director and, in some cases, sensitive incineration. A single researcher conducted 20 months of ethnographic fieldwork in one National Health Service (NHS) Trust including observing the consenting process for pregnancy remains disposal (n=28) and interviewing 27 women, including 19 who had experience of the consent process for pregnancy remains disposal, about their understanding, attitudes and experiences of pregnancy remains disposal. Transcripts were analysed for representative themes.ResultsPrior to the discussion and consenting process most participants had not given consideration to disposal methods. Participants expressed surprise about the discussion and disposal pathways with most suggesting it was inappropriate, particularly given the early stage of their pregnancy (<12 weeks’ gestation). In some cases, the consenting process caused distress due to the way the participant framed their pregnancy remains being divergent from implied meaning in discussions about disposal.ConclusionsCurrent practices appear discordant with the views of some women experiencing miscarriage. A person-centred approach to pregnancy remains disposal is recommended to accommodate a diverse range of approaches so as not to challenge a woman’s experience of and agency about her body, pregnancy and pregnancy remains.

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“Why didn't we do it”? Reproductive loss and the problem of post-mortem consent

Cited by 2 publications

References 47 publications

Invisible Labours

Invisible Labours

Women’s experiences of the consenting process for pregnancy remains disposal following early miscarriage

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