[Magdalen] Harvest

[Grace Cangialosi]

Well, Jay, as a chaplain I've worked with patients on both sides of the issue, as well, and I had the privilege of observing the removal of organs from a young man who had been a patient of mine in the ICU. It was a holy time, and I was especially moved by the respect shown by the team of doctors.
But there were quite a few of us, on the staff, at least, who were always uncomfortable with the term "harvest." I'm not sure the term was ever used directly with families, and I never heard any opinion from family members. The problem with it for me is that it feels dehumanizing, since it's primarily an agricultural term. "Removal" or "retrieval" seem less that way. 
Obviously YMMV.

> On Nov 25, 2015, at 11:08 AM, Jay Weigel <jay.weigel at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Well, Grace, I personally don't think that's unpleasant. I've cared for
> patients who were the donors. It was a sacred sort of feeling that I can't
> adequately describe. I never worked on a transplant unit, but I've taken
> care of patients who were recipients after the fact.
> 
> On Wed, Nov 25, 2015 at 10:59 AM, Grace Cangialosi <gracecan at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> 
>> An even more unpleasant way it's used is in the removal of organs for
>> transplants.
>> 
>>>> On Nov 25, 2015, at 10:48 AM, Cantor03--- via Magdalen <
>>> magdalen at herberthouse.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> In a message dated 11/25/2015 10:06:10 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
>>> marionwhitevale at gmail.com writes:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Am I  alone in disliking the use of the word 'harvest' when speaking of
>>> taking  the life of sentient beings for food or sport?  To me a field of
>>> wheat or oats or turnips can be harvested, but it feels wrong to include
>>> killing as a similarly bloodless action.  My Oxford Dictionary  appears
>>> to agree with me.
>>> 
>>> Marion, a  pilgrim>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>> 
>>> Well, dislike away, but the term is firmly embedded in the hunting
>>> culture.  Hunting is not my cup of tea, but short of big game  hunting
>>> in Africa, I do grant hunting aficionados their right to hunt.
>>> 
>>> And my trusty Merriam-Webster Dictionary would appear to disagree
>>> with the Oxford (which is more English usage?) with the following
>>> definition:
>>> 
>>> b :   to gather, catch, hunt, or kill (as salmon, oysters, or deer) for
>>> human use,  sport, or population control
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> David  Strang.
>>