The Body in Grief: Death Investigations, Objections to Autopsy, and the Religious and Cultural ‘Other’
Article
Article Title | The Body in Grief: Death Investigations, Objections to Autopsy, and the Religious and Cultural ‘Other’ |
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ERA Journal ID | 211287 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Carpenter, Belinda (Author), Tait, Gordon (Author) and Quadrelli, Carol A. (Author) |
Journal Title | Religions |
Journal Citation | 5 (1), pp. 165-178 |
Number of Pages | 14 |
Year | 2014 |
Place of Publication | Switzerland |
ISSN | 2077-1444 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.3390/rel5010165 |
Web Address (URL) | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/5/1/165 |
Abstract | Sudden, violent and otherwise unexplained deaths are investigated in most western jurisdictions through a Coronial or medico-legal process. A crucial element of such an investigation is the legislative requirement to remove the body for autopsy and other medical interventions, processes which can disrupt traditional religious and cultural grieving practices. While recent legislative changes in an increasing number of jurisdictions allow families to raise objections based on religious and cultural grounds, such concerns can be over-ruled, often exacerbating the trauma and grief of families. Based on funded research which interviews a range of Coronial staff in one Australian jurisdiction, this paper explores the disjuncture between medico-legal discourses, which position the body as corpse, and the rise of more ‘therapeutic’ discourses which recognise the family’s wishes to reposition the body as beloved and lamented. |
Keywords | Australia, Indigenous, autopsy, body, coroner, culture, death, grief, religion, sacred |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 441011. Sociology of health |
480404. Law and religion | |
Byline Affiliations | Queensland University of Technology |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
Funding source | Australian Research Council (ARC) |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q78xw/the-body-in-grief-death-investigations-objections-to-autopsy-and-the-religious-and-cultural-other
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