Like the Marine Corps. it is self perpetuating
Methods
Obstetrical Gnosis: The Technological Model of Birth
Human interest in patients is not respected--machines are
Trying to produce the Perfect baby--the mother was secondary
Underlying view that without their help and technology a normal delivery was impossible
Delivery As Rital
Assembly line, belief that the technology is neccessary
Many of the technological items can be safely ommitted--they are only there as part of a ritual
Processing of Psychological Transformatin: Medical School and Obstetrical Training
Medical Training and Tetrogression to a Lower Level of Cognitive Functioning
Get rid of the humanitarian aspects--if sucessfull the medical school initiation makes you a technocrat
Redundancy and Affectivity as Trasformative Agents
one bad experience makes much more of an impression than several hundred good ones
Cognitive Transformation Through Ritual
Clinical experience (human) is withheld until the medical students have thuroughly internalized the technological foundations and mentality of medicine
the Obstetric "technology" actually "works" (although most people would have been born just fine anyways)
The Future of the Technological Model
Current Challenges to the Technological Model
Humanistic model--patient comes first: still in the hospital in case of technological need
Holistic model--home births--or still in hospital
Reactions to Radical Change
Malpractice suits way up increases the dependenc eon the more "safe" (legally, at least) technological model--more c-sections