Phenomenology of Implantation

To prevent sudden cardiac death as a result of fatal arrhythmias, the use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) is increasing each year in Australia and worldwide. Such rapidly expanding biotechnology remains poorly understood. Themes emerging from the dialogue of the key players in heart implantation include the existential concepts: implantation as body-liminality; body-temporality/time; body-spatiality/movement; body-emotionality; body-sexuality/gender/ and body-relationality. The phenomenon of implantation has profound meaning of liminality as 'Being on the threshold of life and death.' This project provides knowledge that existential-needs such as, indepth education, informed consent, negotiation, and support, experienced by the key players within the four groups represented, is not always met. The journey portrayed in this book identified a continuous thread of body-liminality experienced by all participants, albeit in differing ways. Collaboration between all players in heart implantation within the context of support groups is a strategy worthy of consideration within a healthcare system that appears more involved with bioelectronics than humanity.