Friday, July 20, 2007

Pass the Placenta Pate, Please?

From USA Today: New mom, Anne Swanson, in Nevada had wanted to keep the placenta from the birth of her child, because her midwife had recommended that she ingest the placenta to gain nutrients and to prevent postpartum depression.(The practice, known as placentophagy, is not common and received with considerable skepticism by more traditional medical experts). But Anne had to be rushed to the hospital for an emergency C-section and the hospital refused to release the placenta after the birth, regarding it as hazardous medical waste. A district court in Las Vegas ruled that Ms. Swanson was entitled to keep the placenta as her property, even though it had been removed from her body -- a ruling that might have interesting legal and ethical implications if it were to be appealed, considering the impact the Moore vs Board of Regents case has had on legal issues in ownership and property issues of the body.

1 comment:

Lord Manley said...

I find it hard to imagine why a court would ever decide otherwise, but on the subject of placenta.