The body is an entity of natural order or divine creation
In the study Schweda and Schicktanz, people from all countries felt that there were limits to individual autonomy due to the view that the body is more of an entity. Body parts aren’t seen as replaceable parts but parts of an inborn structure. This is a more holistic view and in the focus group, this view frequently related to a hesitant, distrustful position towards science and the feeling that there are moral limitations to technological interventions. Religion could be connected to this view but also a non-religious view that there is a natural order of things. According to this view, there is a moral aspect to interventions where they become “unnatural” (Schweda and Schicktanz, 2009:5-6). …show more content…
Cross-culturally humans are characteristically treating their dead as if some part of the deceased is still present in the dead body. Also something characteristically human is to see the body and the self as connected to each other (Joralemon, 1995:347). In many cultures, such as the Hmong, separation between self and body is seen as the cause of sickness, called soul loss. According to Hmong belief, if the body is cut or if any parts are removed the body will be eternally imbalanced causing not only frequent illness but possible physical incompletion during the next incarnation. Removal of vital organs after death means that the soul cannot be reborn which means that both surgeries and autopsies are prohibited (Fadiman, 1997:33). This means that there can be religious and cultural reasons not to allow donation or even organ transfer as a practice. Religion can also serve as a way to increase organ donation. Buddhists believe that gifting has spiritual significance and that it is important to have a low attachment to the body and one’s parts. Buddha himself sacrificed body parts and even his life for others and this is a powerful argument to persuade individuals and kin to donate organs. (Ikels, 2013:99) This means that religion is not necessarily an obstacle when it comes to organ transfer. Procurement specialist just need to be cultural brokers and understand the cultural beliefs and perceptions regarding the body of the people
In the study Schweda and Schicktanz, people from all countries felt that there were limits to individual autonomy due to the view that the body is more of an entity. Body parts aren’t seen as replaceable parts but parts of an inborn structure. This is a more holistic view and in the focus group, this view frequently related to a hesitant, distrustful position towards science and the feeling that there are moral limitations to technological interventions. Religion could be connected to this view but also a non-religious view that there is a natural order of things. According to this view, there is a moral aspect to interventions where they become “unnatural” (Schweda and Schicktanz, 2009:5-6). …show more content…
Cross-culturally humans are characteristically treating their dead as if some part of the deceased is still present in the dead body. Also something characteristically human is to see the body and the self as connected to each other (Joralemon, 1995:347). In many cultures, such as the Hmong, separation between self and body is seen as the cause of sickness, called soul loss. According to Hmong belief, if the body is cut or if any parts are removed the body will be eternally imbalanced causing not only frequent illness but possible physical incompletion during the next incarnation. Removal of vital organs after death means that the soul cannot be reborn which means that both surgeries and autopsies are prohibited (Fadiman, 1997:33). This means that there can be religious and cultural reasons not to allow donation or even organ transfer as a practice. Religion can also serve as a way to increase organ donation. Buddhists believe that gifting has spiritual significance and that it is important to have a low attachment to the body and one’s parts. Buddha himself sacrificed body parts and even his life for others and this is a powerful argument to persuade individuals and kin to donate organs. (Ikels, 2013:99) This means that religion is not necessarily an obstacle when it comes to organ transfer. Procurement specialist just need to be cultural brokers and understand the cultural beliefs and perceptions regarding the body of the people