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Pacemaker abuse

By Helen Lobato - posted Friday, 6 March 2009


I would imagine that before the age of medical intervention, a deteriorating heart conduction system would have resulted in a quick death, preceded by dizziness and collapse, and this to me still seems a reasonable end to the life cycle. Why then are so many people amenable to the technological fix and extended duration of the mortal existence?

In The Postmodern Heart: a discourse analysis of a booklet on pacemaker implantation, Carole Anderson from The School of Nursing, Griffith University, provides some explanation that is worthy of comment.

She describes the pacemaker booklet given to patients and published by the global leader in pacemaker manufacture. A well-looking attractive male of 65 years is featured as the recipient of the device. There is a profound difference between the number of men and women who receive pacemakers, with ageing males the most likely contenders. The booklet describes the male as a loving grandfather surrounded by family and friends; indeed the portrait of a person with a life worth living. But nowhere in the pamphlet is a list of the problems that pacemaker technology may present; such as dependence on technology, and issues that may occur due to feelings of disfigurement, and the ever present fear and concern that the device might fail.

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The author of The Postmodern Heart also explores the idea of the cyborg in reference to the pacemaker, with the fusion of machine and human blurring the reality of life and death.

To understand this predilection for the pacemaker fix, Anderson explains that potential pacemaker recipients are encouraged to believe that this is the only way to solve the problem of the altered heart beat; but there are other choices which are not explained to the patient. Those who read the manufacturer-sponsored pacemaker booklets are convinced that the members of the medical profession are the keepers of all pacemaker knowledge, providing all the answers to their cardiac problems, leaving the readers seemingly powerless. Such a strong patriarchal view is reinforced by our general society which regards technology as progress, in all things medical, and beyond.

Anderson says, that when nurses fail to question the unremitting usage of the pacemaker technology, we continue that nasty stranglehold, exerted by the powerful bodies, such as the medical profession, and the pacemaker manufacturers over authentic human lives.

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About the Author

Helen Lobato is an independent health researcher and radio broadcaster with community radio 3cr and at present is a co-producer of Food fight, a weekly program around food security issues. Helen has a background in critical care nursing.

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