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Selfies Take Grotesque Twist World Over

Selfies Take Grotesque Twist World Over
Selfies Take Grotesque Twist World Over

As the selfie craze grips the world, a number of self-portraits with cadavers taken during anatomy and autopsy courses by Iranian medical students went viral in virtual space, stirring rage among the online community.

In response to the incident, deputy health minister for education Bagher Larijani urged all universities of medical sciences to uphold professional ethics and show respect to the deceased.

“All teachers and professors are mandated to remind and highlight ethical and professional ethos in the first sessions of anatomy, pathology, or autopsy, and prevent such unethical and immoral behavior among students to maintain the dignity of the departed,” said Larijani, who is also vice president of the Supreme Council of Ethics at the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Khabaronline reports.

Any type of photography of bodies in medical and non-medical educational environment is strictly forbidden. In cases where photography has an academic purpose, it must be done after obtaining permission from the competent authority. In no way should the deceased be recognizable.

Noting that posters must be put in classrooms and hallways in educational centers to present guidelines to students, Larijani warned that violators will be punished by the Students Disciplinary Committees.

 Paramedic Fired

In other incidents, a Russian paramedic was fired after taking selfies with dying patients, and a Venezuela-based medical student’s action of posting a selfie next to a woman giving birth in a hospital delivery room, drew much criticism.

Russian Tatiana Kulikova, 25, was sacked by health officers in Kirov after she posted online the pictures she snapped in the back of an ambulance, reports Daily Mail.

In one image, captioned ‘another moron,’ the blonde is mocking a badly injured accident victim. In another she has captioned the picture of a heart attack patient ‘How I hate my job.’

Kulikova’s shocking selfies outraged locals who had family members featured in her grim gallery. Local health campaigner Artem Golubev, 40, said: ‘It is clear that while she was taking these photographs she was not looking after her patients.’

He added: “She shows a callous disregard for the welfare of her patients, some of whom died after those pictures were taken. I would not be surprised if their families sue both her and the emergency services.”

 Offending

Venzeuela-based Daniel Sanchez reportedly posted an offending photograph to his Instagram account, investigative website vice.com reported.

The controversial picture showed Sanchez smirking at the camera while a woman gives birth behind him.

Activist group Roses Revolution, which aims to end obstetric violence, started a Change.org petition encouraging an investigation of Sanchez.

“Health professionals and students dealing with mothers should have impeccable behavior at all times that respects the emotional and physical needs of women in labor and their babies,” the petition reads.

Sanchez apologized, but maintained that he had the consent of the woman.

Financialtribune.com