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What's in a Name? Death before birth
1Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin, New Zealand. jutel@clear.net.nz
Perspectives in Biology and Medicine
|September 9, 2006
Summary
The language used for pregnancy loss, such as abortion, miscarriage, and stillbirth, carries significant social weight. This study examines how these terms and regulations impact grieving families and their ability to express loss.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Medical Ethics
- Cultural Studies
Background:
- Diverse terminology (abortion, miscarriage, stillbirth) is used across medical, legal, and public spheres to describe pregnancy outcomes other than live birth.
- These terms are laden with social meanings and consequences, influencing perceptions of fetal death and maternal experience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the complex implications of language used to designate fetal death.
- To analyze how these terms create paradoxical and conflicting subject positions for mothers and fetuses.
- To examine statutory regulations that may impede ritualistic expression of loss for grieving families.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of terminology and its social implications.
- Examination of statutory regulations in Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Comparative cultural analysis, noting similarities across Western societies.
Main Results:
- The language surrounding pregnancy loss simultaneously establishes conflicting subject positions for mothers and fetuses.
- Statutory regulations can inadvertently limit ritualistic outlets for grieving families.
- The chosen terms carry significant social and emotional weight beyond their literal definitions.
Conclusions:
- The language used for fetal death is complex and carries profound social consequences.
- Legal frameworks may not adequately support the grieving process for families experiencing pregnancy loss.
- Cross-cultural understanding of these linguistic and regulatory issues is important.
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