Infrastructure and Personhood in Papua New Guinean Hospital Experimental Futures

By [Author's Name]

This book explores the relationship between infrastructure and personhood in Papua New Guinea, focusing on the role of hospitals as sites of experimentation and transformation. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted in a rural hospital, the book examines how the hospital's physical environment, social organization, and medical practices shape the experiences of patients, families, and staff. The book argues that the hospital is not simply a place of healing, but also a site where new forms of personhood are imagined and enacted.

Biomedicine in an Unstable Place: Infrastructure and Personhood in a Papua New Guinean Hospital (Experimental Futures)

by Richard Lawson

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3917 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	305 pages
Paperback	:	288 pages
Item Weight	:	16 ounces
Dimensions	:	6.85 x 0.65 x 9.69 inches

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The book begins by exploring the history of the hospital, which was founded by Christian missionaries in the early 20th century. The hospital has undergone significant changes over the years, but it has always been a place of innovation and experimentation. In the 1950s, the hospital was one of the first in Papua New Guinea to adopt Western medical practices. In the 1970s, the hospital was involved in a major research project on the use of traditional medicine in the treatment of malaria. And in the 1990s, the hospital was one of the first in the country to develop a program for the prevention of HIV/AIDS.

Today, the hospital is a bustling center of activity. It provides a wide range of medical services to the surrounding community, including inpatient and outpatient care, surgery, and maternity care. The hospital also has a strong research program, and it is involved in a number of international collaborations. The hospital is a vital part of the community, and it plays a key role in the provision of health care in Papua New Guinea.

The book's ethnographic research was conducted over a period of two years. The author spent time observing the everyday life of the hospital, and she conducted interviews with patients, families, staff, and administrators. The book's analysis draws on a range of theoretical perspectives, including medical anthropology, social theory, and science and technology studies. The book argues that the hospital is not simply a place of healing, but also a site where new forms of personhood are imagined and enacted.

The hospital's physical environment is a key factor in shaping the experiences of patients, families, and staff. The hospital is located in a remote area of Papua New Guinea, and it is often difficult to access. The hospital's buildings are old and dilapidated, and they are often overcrowded. The hospital also lacks many of the basic amenities that are taken for granted in developed countries, such as running water and electricity. These conditions can make it difficult for patients to receive the care they need, and they can also make it difficult for staff to provide care.

The hospital's social organization also plays a key role in shaping the experiences of patients, families, and staff. The hospital is a hierarchical organization, with doctors at the top and nurses and other staff at the bottom. This hierarchy can create tensions between different groups of staff, and it can also make it difficult for patients to access the care they need. The hospital also has a strong emphasis on individualism, which can make it difficult for patients to receive the support they need from their families and communities.

The hospital's medical practices also shape the experiences of patients, families, and staff. The hospital uses a Western model of medicine, which emphasizes the use of drugs and surgery to treat illness. This model of medicine can be effective in treating some illnesses, but it can also be ineffective or even harmful in treating others. The hospital also has a strong emphasis on biomedical research, which can lead to the development of new treatments and cures. However, this research can also be expensive and time-consuming, and it can sometimes lead to the neglect of other important aspects of patient care.

The hospital is a complex and dynamic organization, and it is constantly changing. The hospital is facing a number of challenges, including the lack of resources, the high cost of care, and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases. However, the hospital is also a place of hope and innovation. The hospital is committed to providing the best possible care to its patients, and it is constantly looking for ways to improve its services. The hospital is a vital part of the community, and it plays a key role in the provision of health care in Papua New Guinea.

This book has explored the relationship between infrastructure and personhood in Papua New Guinean hospital experimental futures. The book has argued that the hospital is not simply a place of healing, but also a site where new forms of personhood are imagined and enacted. The book's analysis has drawn on a range of theoretical perspectives, including medical anthropology, social theory, and science and technology studies. The book's findings have implications for the understanding of the role of infrastructure in the production of personhood, and they also have implications for the design and delivery of health care services in Papua New Guinea and beyond.

Biomedicine in an Unstable Place: Infrastructure and Personhood in a Papua New Guinean Hospital (Experimental Futures)

by Richard Lawson

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3917 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	305 pages
Paperback	:	288 pages
Item Weight	:	16 ounces
Dimensions	:	6.85 x 0.65 x 9.69 inches

FREE