Treating head injuries

For some cultures including our Māori culture, the head is tapu, a part of the body deserving of special respect.  What implications does this have for the treatment of head injuries in New Zealand? 

Gary Barclay, a Senior Lecturer in Sport, has first hand experience of head injury, playing football in 2013. He recorded a detailed description of his experiences as a patient and during rehabilitation. Gary worked with Dr Simon Middlemas, Principal Lecturer in Sport, and Richard Kerr-Bell to examine and analyse his experience. 

Gary identifies as New Zealand pakeha but aspects of his experience raise important considerations for people of other cultures. He hopes to stimulate discussion about important issues to do with physical handling of the head and neck region, and even more intrusive, having a halo brace screwed into the skull. How might our emergency and medical care professionals ensure the cultural safety and security of those under their physical care? This would be consistent with their obligation to treat users of health services with dignity and respect.

Read the full article here.

You can also read other articles in the same issue of Scope: Health and Wellbeing here.