Reading a recent book on Nurses and Midwives in Nazi Germany: The "Euthanasia Programs" by Susan Benedict and Linda Shields reminded me the that there is often a reluctance to research the darker sides to our professional histories. I remember Dave Holmes once telling me that he received some really aggressive and distressing criticism from his colleagues when his paper Killing for the state: The darkest side of American nursing was published. It seems that people within nursing took exception to someone questioning the morality of nurses who made people comfortable on death row in preparation for the electric chair and the lethal injection. In some ways I can understand this kind of … [Read more...] about No pain, no gain
A new Journal of Humanities in Rehabilitation featuring Thomas Eakins and early photography of motion
Angela Fritz's recent blogpost on the anatomical studies of Thomas Eakins appeared in a new journal that may be of real interest to members of the Critical Physiotherapy Network. The Journal of Humanities in Rehabilitation is published by the Emory Center for Digital Scholarship and aspires to: raise the consciousness and deepen the intellect of the humanistic relationship in the rehabilitation sciences. Our mission is to encourage dialogue among rehabilitation professionals, patients, families and caregivers that describe the human condition as it experiences the impact of illness or disability. We hope to highlight and illustrate the special relationship between the patient and … [Read more...] about A new Journal of Humanities in Rehabilitation featuring Thomas Eakins and early photography of motion
War’s waste – physiotherapy and the disabled war veteran
Physiotherapy and rehabilitation have always been inextricably linked. Although they represent discrete fields, their histories have often been closely intertwined. Physical rehabilitation as an organised discipline has its origins in World War I. Beth Linker, in her excellent book War's waste: Rehabilitation in World War I America, describes how it became necessary to change American attitudes to the retired Civil War veteran who had been considered heroes and, as such, exempted from work. But as the cost of meeting their social welfare costs grew, the government realised it needed a solution, and found its answer in the emerging rehabilitation sciences. The idea of the noble war … [Read more...] about War’s waste – physiotherapy and the disabled war veteran
Rethinking Rehabilitation – new book with input from Critical Physiotherapy Network authors
I'm very excited to announce the publication of a new book titled 'Rethinking Rehabilitation,' that includes the writing of a few Critical Physiotherapy Network members. Barbara Gibson was one of the instigators of the project, and is one of the co-editors. She also co-authored chapters on Rethinking Rehabilitation: Theory, Practice, History—and the Future, and Rethinking "Normal Development" in Children’s Rehabilitation with Gail Teachman, and Yani Hamdani. There is a chapter on Rethinking Movement: Postmodern Reflections on a Dominant Rehabilitation Discourse by me, Barbara and Joanna K Fadyl A chapter titled Rehabilitation and Recovery of Self-Identity Emily J Thomas, William M … [Read more...] about Rethinking Rehabilitation – new book with input from Critical Physiotherapy Network authors
Connectivity – Contributions from the Network #6 – Gail Teachman
Thanks to everyone who sent me comments and thoughts on the Connectivity writing project. Over the next few days I'll post up some of the feedback and thoughts that these pieces. Remember to send comments on these things too and I'll pull them all together. This post came from Gail Teachman - Lecturer with the Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto and PhD candidate in the Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Science at University of Toronto, working with Barbara Gibson. Gail Teachman Thinking about 'connectivity' offers an immediate shift in perspective - away from the notion that disabled people are 'other'. Rehabilitation, amidst … [Read more...] about Connectivity – Contributions from the Network #6 – Gail Teachman
Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom
There has been a lot of interest in the problems of anxiety in the media recently. About a month ago, Scott Stossel - editor of the high profile Atlantic Magazine - appeared on the Kim Hill Saturday morning radio show here in New Zealand having written a very moving account of his lifelong battle with crippling anxiety. Scott is a very successful editor and well known personality, so it came as a shock to many people that he had suffered so long (and seemingly managed) with this condition. (You can hear the full interview with Kim Hill here). More recently, Australian writer, singer and broadcaster Sian Prior spoke candidly about her own battle with anxiety. A few days ago, the … [Read more...] about Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom