In a message dated 26/02/2005 00:48:47 GMT Standard Time, HeroQuest-RPG_at_yahoogroups.com writes:
Iatrogenesis is:
Any adverse or physical condition induced in a patient through the effects of treatment by a physician or surgeon." http://cmo-usa.com/iatro.html
Oliver
Hi,
Thansk Oliver, for your replies to Jane's comments. I can recommend reading Ivan Illich's works on this subject. There is a whole section on how pregancy has become severly medicalised and much less of a natural process. My god you would have that that labour wards, pethedine, midwives, gas and air and machines that go ping had been around since man walked upright.
Being active during pregnacy is definetly the norm in the world, I think that Jane needs to look beyond medieval belief systems. Many women around the world do not get maternity leave, they do not get the opportunity to complain about bad backs, morning sickness as they are busy surviving, collecting water, ploughing fields, tending other children, working in factories etc. I am not going to get into sociology arguments, debates about maternity, the nature of pregnancy or this digest. Just allow me to say, you are wrong in many of your perceptions. However just to keep things on a roleplaying line, here are some examples of warrior women who fought while pregnant, from Earth's history.
Freydis Eiriksdottir who took part in an expedition to Vinland, defended herself from Skraelings using a sword while heavily pregnant, and personally murdered several "inconvenient" people later in the expedition, is described in _Eirik the Red's Saga_ (http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/north/nor-i/thule/017-6e.htm)
Salaym Bint Malham is described by Rosalind Miles as a war leader who, "with an armoury of swords and daggers strapped round her pregnant belly fought in the ranks of Muhammad and his followers".
Caterina Sforza (also known as Catherine or Katherina) was the daughter of the Duke of Milan. She married Girolamo Riaro, nephew of Pope Sixtus IV. She is said to have excelled in boisterous athletic sports. In 1483 she defended her husband's territory from the Venetians. While seven months pregnant she held a fortress at St Angelo after the death of Pope Sixtus until his successor could claim it.
In 1643 during the English Civil War, Blanche the Countess of Arundel, defended Wardour Castle against a Parliamentarian army while Brilliana the Countess of Harley, who was pregnant at the time, defended Brampton Castle against the King's army.
Kang Ke-ching, wife of Zou Enlai, was one of the 35 women who were on Mao Tse-tung's year long, 6,000 mile "Long Walk". She fought nationalist armies, provincial war lords and bandits. Twice she carried wounded men on her back. She commanded a group of 300 men in a number of battles. Also on the "Long Walk" was Major General Li Chen, who joined Mao's forces in 1927. She led her troops into battle while pregnant and within hours after giving birth
Many Thanks
Simon
BTW Midwifery was my favourite part of my training as a specialist nurse and the Medicalisation of Human Activity was my final essay for my HND.
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