Superficial Wounds: The Problems and Possibilities of Medical Simulation

Abstract

There are some wounds that pose no threat to the individual, even though, on the surface, the person appears to be in distress. In reality their injuries are self-inflicted and have been painted on with make-up. Such wounds have been designed to have an effect on the witness, engaging them in the drama of supposed suffering and prompting them to react in the appropriate manner. The dictionary definition of a superficial wound identifies it as apparent rather than real and this chapter seeks to negotiate, and trouble, that terrain. In particular I will examine how simulated events may serve to move those who witness them and engender a real response with lasting effect and how this may be employed in medical training. The chapter begins with an examination of the context for medical simulation and continues with an exploration of a range of case studies that exemplify the problems and possibilities of such practice.